Reply #5: I failed to mention this.

[Perky]

There is no Constitutional requirement that the SPeaker be a house member. The House Rules are absolutely mum on the issue as well. THere was actually some talk about bringing back Bob Michel for the role after Newt quit. but they eventually settled on Hastert.

Could you imagine Howard Dean challenging Tom DeLay's whipping boy (Haster that is) to a series of Debate on the efficacy of his tenure?