Leadership
The majority party members and the minority party members meet separately to select their leaders. Third parties rarely have had enough members to elect their own leadership, and independents will generally join one of the larger party organizations to receive committee assignments. A party caucus or conference is the name given to a meeting of or organization of all party members in the House. During these meetings, party members discuss matters of concern.
Learn more about the history of the majority and minority leaders from the Office of the Clerk.
Speaker of the House
![Speaker Boehner](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20120913080636im_/http://www.house.gov/content/static/img/leadership/boehner.jpg)
Rep. John Boehner
Elected by the whole of the House of Representatives, the Speaker acts as leader of the House and combines several roles: the institutional role of presiding officer and administrative head of the House, the role of leader of the majority party in the House, and the representative role of an elected member of the House. The Speaker of the House is second in line to succeed the President, after the Vice President.
Republican Leadership
![FPO](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20120913080636im_/http://www.house.gov/content/static/img/leadership/hensarling.jpg)
Republican Conference Chairman
Rep. Jeb Hensarling
Heads organization of all Republican Party members in the House.
Democratic Leadership
![FPO](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20120913080636im_/http://www.house.gov/content/static/img/leadership/clyburn.jpg)
Assistant Democratic Leader
Rep. James Clyburn
Works with caucuses and as liaison to Appropriations Committee.
![FPO](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20120913080636im_/http://www.house.gov/content/static/img/leadership/larson.jpg)
Democratic Caucus Chairman
Rep. John Larson
Heads organization of all Democratic Party members in the House.