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McCarthy’s election to Speaker cemented him as the leader of the House — and House Republicans — for the 118th Congress.

As Speaker, McCarthy decides what bills come to the floor for a vote, allowing him to shape Congress’s agenda, as well as frame the GOP’s message through legislation intended to please its base that have little to no chance of clearing the Democratic-controlled Senate.

McCarthy also has significant influence over the Republican Steering Committee, which determined committee chairmanships and assignments for the GOP conference. And McCarthy had the power to select the chair of the House Administration Committee, a position for which he tapped his close ally, Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.).

But McCarthy’s power was diluted during the Speakership fight when GOP holdouts negotiated several concessions that empowered rank-and-file members of the conference. Read more…