Iraqi lawmakers elected a Sunni politician as Parliament speaker Tuesday , finally taking a step to form a new government after two weeks of deadlock while the country faces a powerful Islamist militant insurgency . Lawmakers elected Salim al-Jabouri , the head of a Sunni coalition , as speaker of Iraq 's Council of Representatives . The Iraqi Constitution mandates that the job go to a Sunni Muslim . The body also elected two deputy speakers . MAPS : Understanding the Iraq crisis . Al-Jabouri announced that lawmakers are accepting nominations for president , saying that there are three days to nominate and then the body will reconvene . The president must be Kurdish and the prime minister a Shiite . The body had convened July 1 to elect a new speaker , but the session quickly descended into bickering between members of different parties and had to be rescheduled for July 8 . That session was delayed , and more arguing erupted . Under the constitution , the Parliament has 75 days from when it convenes to pick a prime minister . While lawmakers are under pressure to act quickly , the political body has had trouble moving swiftly in the past . The last time Parliament met to pick a prime minister , it took nearly 10 months . The quagmire persists even as fighters with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria , or ISIS -- a Sunni-dominated al Qaeda splinter group -- have overtaken large swaths of Iraq and Syria . The militants want to establish an Islamic state spanning both countries . President Barack Obama has authorized 300 military advisers in Iraq , 210 of which are there now . Secretary of State John Kerry issued a statement of congratulation to Iraq for electing a speaker and deputy speakers . `` The election of a speaker is the first step in the critical process of forming a new government that can take into account the rights , aspirations , and legitimate concerns of all Iraq 's communities , '' the statement read . `` We urge Iraq 's leaders to follow this achievement with rapid formation of a new government pursuant to Iraq 's constitutional timelines . '' The statement urged the international community to support Iraq 's `` democrative political process , '' adding that the `` stakes of Ira 's future '' depend on its leaders to work together and stand against ISIS . Obama has ordered an assessment of Iraqi security forces , which was given Monday to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Gen. Martin Dempsey , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , a Pentagon spokesman said . Pentagon officials will review the report that evaluates the capabilities , training , morale , leadership and command and control of Iraqi forces and then hand it to the President and give Obama their recommendations for the best next steps in supporting Iraq . Many Iraqi troops abandoned their posts and fled when faced with attacks from ISIS . Two U.S. officials told CNN this week that the administration is concerned about the overwhelming sectarianism among members of Iraq 's security forces . American commanders are concerned if the United States moves into a direct advisory role of Iraqi government forces , it will be perceived as taking sides with the Iranian-backed Shiite elements inside Iraqi units . In Syria , ISIS continues to gain ground . As of Monday , the group controlled about 95 % of the eastern province of Deir Ezzor , which borders Iraq , according to the UK-based opposition group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights . Exclusive : Harrowing tales from the front line . Signs of war : Life amid Iraqi conflict . 34 killed in militants ' raid on reputed brothel in Baghdad .
Iraq elects a Sunni politician as Parliament speaker . It marks first real step to form new government after lawmakers convened , failed to make a move . Iraq is facing a powerful insurgency from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria . Secretary of State John Kerry issues congratulations to Iraq .