The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives presides over the lower house of Congress, the House of Representatives. This post is second in line to the presidency -- after the vice president -- and is therefore the third highest - ranking national office overall. In practice, this post is the highest - ranking in Congress, because the president of the US Senate is the vice president, who has his / her office, and predominant responsibilities, at the White House, and therefore does not have a day - to - day presence at the Congress.
who is the presiding officer of the legislative house
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives