News Analysis As potentially extended battles to elect new speakers of the House of Representatives become more frequent, a common fear is repeatedly expressed in the national news media that the chamber cannot act until the new speaker is chosen. An Oct. 4, 2023, headline in the Washington Post, for example, succinctly captured the fear, proclaiming “The House Can’t Function Without a Speaker.” More recently, a USA Today news report on Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) prospects for keeping the gavel in the 119th Congress included the declaration that “members can’t tackle any other business until someone is chosen.” The lower chamber in the 119th Congress can function without a speaker and has done so as recently as October 2023, when former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was removed by conservative rebels led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.)….