The Evolution of the Speakership: Periods and Characteristics
 
Period
    
Characteristics
Parliamentary
1789-1859
Partisan
1860-1910
Feudal
1911-1961
Democratic
1962-present
Policy agenda   sectional distributive; government largess redistibutive; from one section/class to another regulatory; budgetary; off budget programs
Party System fragmented centralized: strong two party decentralized atomistic
Presidency weak weak stronger strong
Institutionalization of House low moderate high moderate
Turnover in House high moderate low moderate
Powers of Speaker moderate high low moderate
Speakership presiding officer hierarchical broker therapeutic/policy oriented/ symbolic

Ron Peters, (1990) The American Speakership: The Office in Historical Development, Johns Hopkins