Definition and meaning of Speaker of the House: Speaker of the House is an elected position in the United States Congress. The Speaker of the House is the highest ranking member of the majority party in the House of Representatives and is responsible for overseeing the legislative process. The Speaker of the House is the second in the line of succession to the U.S. presidency and is second only to the Vice President in terms of power and influence. The Speaker of the House is traditionally a member of the majority party in the House, although there have been some instances of independent candidates being elected to the position. The Speaker of the House is responsible for setting the agenda for the House of Representatives, leading debate, and appointing members to committees. The Speaker also has the power to recognize individual members of Congress and can be a major influence in the passage of legislation.