Cheryl L. Johnson is no stranger to the obscure and often tedious aspects of the parliamentary process in Congress. Prior to her appointment she served for more than two decades in the House including stints on the Subcommittee on Libraries and Memorials as well as the House Committee on Education and Labor in which she served as the primary policy adviser and spokeswoman.

However, the fractious nature of Republicans has placed Mrs. Johnson in the unusual situation of maintaining the House operating under her own rules in absence of the speaker. Speaker of the House is in charge of establishing House rules. Without a speaker the responsibility of ensuring smooth and peaceful operation has fallen to Mrs. Johnson until a vote is successful.

As the tense atmosphere grew between lawmakers trying to agree on the speaker for the third day Even Mrs. Johnson appeared exasperated.

In her speech session on Wednesday, the speaker appealed to lawmakers to be respectful and put an end to the pomp which has been a source of tension in the previous elections.

"Before proceeding further, the chair would like to clarify that as part of the clerk's role during the organization of the house, the clerk has the responsibility to preserve order and decorum in the chamber," she stated, before instructing lawmakers on how to conduct themselves when they are on the House floor.

"Members-elect should refrain from engaging in personalities toward other members-elect," she stated. "The chair appreciates the cooperation of members-elect in respecting and upholding order and decorum in the House -- thank you."

So far, lawmakers have generally listened to Ms. Johnson's authority by not speaking out of order and keeping their speech for nomination and votes to a reasonable size and voice. However, as frustration grew within the chamber, a few lawmakers expressed frustration with the process in as well off of on House floor.

Mrs. Johnson is no stranger to a tumultuous House. In her two terms, 2019 and 2021 she presided over two impeachment trials against the president of the time Donald J. Trump and was witness to the assault in the Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2021.

The native of New Orleans, Ms. Johnson is currently in her 60s has a degree in mass communication and journalism from The University of Iowa and a law degree from Howard University in Washington.
http://www.dream11today.com/whos-in-charge-when-theres-no-speaker-of-the-house/