<P> In 1997 , several Republican congressional leaders tried to force Speaker Newt Gingrich to resign . However , Gingrich refused since that would have required a new election for Speaker , which could have led to Democrats along with dissenting Republicans voting for Democrat Dick Gephardt ( then Minority Leader ) as Speaker . After the 1998 midterm elections where the Republicans lost seats , Gingrich did not stand for re-election . The next two figures in the House Republican leadership hierarchy , Majority Leader Richard Armey and Majority Whip Tom DeLay , chose not to run for the office . The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee , Bob Livingston , declared his bid for the speakership , which was unopposed , making him Speaker - designate . It was then revealed , by Livingston himself , who had been publicly critical of President Bill Clinton 's perjury during his sexual harassment trial , that he had engaged in an extramarital affair . He opted to resign from the House , despite being urged to stay on by House Democratic leader Gephardt . Subsequently , chief deputy whip Dennis Hastert was selected as Speaker . The Republicans retained their majorities in the 2000 , 2002 , and 2004 elections . </P>
<P> In 1997 , several Republican congressional leaders tried to force Speaker Newt Gingrich to resign . However , Gingrich refused since that would have required a new election for Speaker , which could have led to Democrats along with dissenting Republicans voting for Democrat Dick Gephardt ( then Minority Leader ) as Speaker . After the 1998 midterm elections where the Republicans lost seats , Gingrich did not stand for re-election . The next two figures in the House Republican leadership hierarchy , Majority Leader Richard Armey and Majority Whip Tom DeLay , chose not to run for the office . The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee , Bob Livingston , declared his bid for the speakership , which was unopposed , making him Speaker - designate . It was then revealed , by Livingston himself , who had been publicly critical of President Bill Clinton 's perjury during his sexual harassment trial , that he had engaged in an extramarital affair . He opted to resign from the House , despite being urged to stay on by House Democratic leader Gephardt . Subsequently , chief deputy whip Dennis Hastert was selected as Speaker . The Republicans retained their majorities in the 2000 , 2002 , and 2004 elections . </P>
which office is second in authority in the house of representatives
which office is second in authority in the house of representatives
Majority Leader
Majority Leader