Speaker Dennis Hastert presides over the House

Presiding over the chamber is only one of many responsibilities the Speaker holds. Most of his time is spent in meetings and negotiations. He is mostly in his office planning the content and timing of the legislative agenda with his leadership circle. He meets regularly with the Majority Leader of the Senate to coordinate matters of political strategy and political timing. He is called upon to represent the House position from time to time in negotiations with the White House. He mediates intraparty disputes between Members of Congress. He meets with House committee chairmen to discuss the status of the legislative work before their committees.

He is asked to speak to groups holding conventions/conferences in Washington. He appears on behalf of the House at funerals of federal officials and at ceremonies, e.g. the recent Congressional Gold Medal presentation to Mother Theresa. He is asked to meet with his counterparts from foreign legislatures who are visiting the U.S. He gives interviews to print and electronic media and participates in many press conferences giving the party's position on a matter before the Congress, or reacting to initiatives from the Minority.

Being a representative from a congressional district as well as Speaker, he also meets with visiting constituents, reads and signs mail from home and speaks by phone or meets with local and state elected officials. As do all Members, he must also find the time to keep up with policy provisions and political discourse by studying legislative material, reading political analyses, and staying current with national news events as they develop.

As a result of all of these activities, the Speaker in recent years is rarely in the chair except for the very start of the House day, or for ceremonial occasions, or for reasons of symbolism. For example, you will see the Speaker presiding over joint sessions of Congress, or when an issue of great national significance is being debated, or when an item important to the party's political agenda is put to the chamber for a vote.

The Speaker appoints a majority party Member to serve as Speaker pro tempore in his absence from the Chair. Each appointment may run for up to 3 days of session. In practice, the appointment is often changed daily and rotated among several different Members.