House Minority Leader Law and Legal Definition
House Minority Leader is the leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives. He or she acts as a spokesperson for the minority party's policy position and organizes its legislative strategy.
From an institutional perspective, the rules of the House assign a number of specific responsibilities to the minority leader. For example, Rule XII, clause 6, grant the minority leader (or his designee) the right to offer a motion to recommit with instructions; Rule II, clause 6, states the Inspector General shall be appointed by joint recommendation of the Speaker, majority leader, and minority leader; and Rule XV, clause 6, provides that the Speaker, after consultation with the minority leader, may place legislation on the Corrections Calendar. The minority leader also has other institutional duties, such as appointing individuals to certain federal entities.
From a party perspective, the minority leader has a wide range of partisan assignments. Five principal party activities direct the work of the minority leader.
1 He or she provides campaign assistance to party incumbents and challengers.
2 The minority leader devises strategies, in consultation with other partisan colleagues, that advance party objectives. For example, by stalling action on the majority party's agenda, the minority leader may be able to launch a campaign against a "do-nothing Congress."
3 The minority leader works to promote and publicize the party's agenda.
4 The minority leader, if his or her party controls the White House, confers regularly with the President and his or her aides about issues before Congress, the Administration's agenda, and political events generally.
5 The minority leader strives to promote party harmony so as to maximize the chances for legislative and political success.
