This week we will look at the development of various institutions in Congress, including the Speaker, which is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives. Interestingly one of the remaining candidates for the Republican presidential nomination is an ex-Speaker: Newt Gingrich.
Mr. Gingrich's tenure as Speaker was controversial and he was ultimately removed as part of an internal power struggle within the party. But he left his imprint on the House. In order to become familiar with the office and the different styles that people bring to it, I want you to research his Speakership and outline what critics - good and bad - say about it.
What does this tell us about the nature of the office itself?
