What is the speaker-designee, and does Steve Scalise have any powers?

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) won the first round in his bid to win the speaker’s gavel, but he isn’t any closer to holding power over the chamber.

While Scalise won the Republican nomination through a secret ballot, 113-99, he still needs to secure 217 votes to become speaker when the full House convenes to hold any real power. Until then, he has been designated the speaker-designee, and the gavel will remain in the hands of Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC).

SPEAKER VOTE: SCALISE AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS COULD BE FACING ANOTHER FLOOR FIASCO

McHenry has been serving as interim speaker in uncharted waters after House Republicans voted to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from the role last week, but while McHenry holds some powers of the speakership, he does not carry the full authority of the position.

McHenry’s authority is outlined by House Rule I, passed in 2003, which states that if the office of speaker is vacant, the next designated member “shall act as Speaker pro tempore until the election of a Speaker or a Speaker pro tempore” and, pending the election, can exercise authorities of the office as “necessary and appropriate to that end.”

Debates about what is “necessary and appropriate” have arisen since McHenry took the gavel, questioning if his role is only to be president over the process of electing a new speaker or if he can adopt the powers of an elected speaker. Regardless, without an elected speaker, the power lies in the hands of McHenry, not Scalise.

Scalise will remain the speaker-designee until a full vote on the House floor, where he’ll need to secure at least 217 of the 221 members of the GOP to vote for him. During Wednesday’s closed-door secret ballot, a number of Republicans declined to vote for either candidate.

Some members have said they will still support Jordan, while others toy with the idea of voting for McCarthy, setting up the potential for another multiround vote for the speaker of the House.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Three nonvoting members of the GOP conference, who can vote in conference but not on the floor, voted for Scalise on Wednesday, further narrowing the margin between him and Jordan. The Washington Examiner confirmed Del. Amata Radewagen and Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon voted for Scalise, while CNN reported Del. James Moylan did as well.

Despite holding the title of speaker-designee, Scalise’s path to the speakership remains unclear as he works to gather enough support within his party.