Rule 2

Republican Leadership

(a) ELECTED LEADERSHIP.—The Elected Republican Leaders of the House of Representatives are—

(1) the Speaker;
(2) the Republican Leader;
(3) the Republican Whip;
(4) the Chair of the Republican Conference;
(5) the Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
(6) the Chair of the Committee on Policy;
(7) the Vice-Chair of the Republican Conference; and,
(8) the Secretary of the Republican Conference.

(b) DESIGNATED LEADERSHIP.—The designated Republican Leaders of the House of Representatives are—

(1) the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules;
(2) the Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means;
(3) the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations;
(4) the Chairman of the House Committee on the Budget;
(5) the Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce;
(6) the Chief Deputy Whip;
(7) One member of the sophomore class elected by the sophomore class; and,
(8) Two members of the freshman class elected by the freshman class.

(c) LEADERSHIP ISSUES.—The Leader may designate certain issues as "Leadership Issues." Those issues will require early and ongoing cooperation between the relevant committees and the Leadership as those issues evolve. A Member of the elected or designated Republican Leadership has an obligation, to the best of his or her ability, to support positions adopted by the Conference, and the resources of the Leadership shall be utilized to support that position.

(d) LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE LIMITATION.—

(1) The Speaker, Republican Leader, Whip, and the Chairs of the Republican Conference, the Committee on Policy, and the National Republican Congressional Committee shall not serve on more than one standing committee or subcommittee of the House of Representatives and in no case shall any of these individuals serve as Chairman of a standing committee of the House of Representatives. Upon the recommendation of the Steering Committee and the approval of the Conference this provision may be waived.

(2) If a Member shall, at any time, cease to serve in any of the Leadership positions named above, he or she may resume his or her position on the standing committee on which he or she previously served.

(e) AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE MINORITY.—

(1) THE SPEAKER AND REPUBLICAN LEADER.—During any time that the Republican Party is not the majority party of the House of Representatives, the office of Speaker shall be considered as vacant, and any reference to, or authority vested in, the Speaker under these rules shall be considered references to and authority vested in the Republican Leader.

(2) COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND RANKING REPUBLICAN MEMBERS.—During any time that the Republican Party is not the majority party of the House of Representatives, any reference to, responsibility of, or authority vested in, the chairman of a committee of the House in these rules shall be considered a reference to, responsibility of, or authority vested in the Ranking Republican Member of such committee.