Final answer:
The leader of the House of Representatives is the Speaker of the House, elected by the entire body of representatives. The Speaker presides over the House, serves as head of the majority party, and is imbued with significant powers, including conducting legislative business and appointing committee members.
Step-by-step explanation:
The leader of the House of Representatives is known as the Speaker of the House. The Speaker is elected by the entire body of representatives, which means that all members of the House, regardless of party affiliation, have a vote in this selection. The position of Speaker is a powerful one, not only being the presiding officer and administrative head of the House but also serving as the partisan leader of the majority party. The Speaker has considerable powers such as assigning bills to committees, deciding when a bill will be presented for a vote, ruling on House procedures, appointing committee members and chairs, and presiding over joint sessions with the Senate.
The Speaker of the House is the only officer of the House mentioned in the Constitution and does not have to be a current member of the House, although historically, all Speakers have been members. Furthermore, the Speaker is second in line to succeed the president, after the vice president. The Speaker serves until either their party loses the majority, they are voted out of the position, or they choose to step down.