Uncharted Territory: Exploring the Powers of an Acting House Speaker

With the absence of a consensus pick to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy as House speaker, the chamber is currently being led by acting speaker Patrick T. McHenry. However, it remains uncertain how much authority McHenry holds, as he does not possess the full powers of an elected speaker. This situation has left the House in a state of uncertainty, particularly as the deadline to pass appropriations bills to fund the federal government approaches in mid-November.