Griffith: Is the Office of House Speaker Vacant?

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) asked about the status of H. Res. 755, the articles of impeachment passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on December 18, 2019, and the status of the Office of the Speaker in a series of parliamentary inquiries on the House floor today.

According to Clause 8(b)(3)(C) of Rule I of the House Rules, “a vacancy in the Office of Speaker may exist by reason of the physical inability of the Speaker to discharge the duties of the office.” Because the articles have not been transmitted to the U.S. Senate by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after 21 calendar days, twelve working days, and seven legislative days in fulfillment of her administrative duties, Griffith inquired if a vacancy in the Office of the Speaker exists.

In comments on the House floor after the series of parliamentary inquiries, Griffith stated of Speaker Pelosi, “She has not done her job. America, I submit a vacancy exists in the Office of the Speaker of the United States House.”