By Staff
This week the 110th Congress will convene, and members of the House of Representatives and the Senate will take the oath of office. This Congress will be historic in a number of ways.
First, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, D-California, will not only become the 60th Speaker of the House but also the first woman in history to hold the position.
Many have discussed the significance of the nation's first Madam Speaker, and the impact its significance will have on future generations of women. As the father of an 11-year old daughter, I believe it is important for her to see there are no longer limits to what she can achieve.
The office of the Speaker of the House is specifically created by the Constitution of the United States (Article 1, Section 2). The Speaker is elected by the House of Representatives and is the body's highest ranking member.
Additionally, the Speaker is the second in the presidential line of succession immediately following the Vice President.
When the 110th Congress convenes, the Democratic Party will be in control of the House for the first time in twelve years. Speaker-elect Pelosi has released her priorities for the first 100 legislative hours of the next Congress. They include: