Explained: Democrat Hakeem Jeffries poised to make history as the first Black speaker of the House

Hakeem Jeffries is poised to become the first Black speaker of the House after Democrats won majority control in the midterm elections

Speaker of the House

The leadership position in the U.S. House of Representatives, second in line to the presidency and the only congressional leadership role mandated by the Constitution

Congressional Black Caucus

A group of Black members of Congress that Jeffries belongs to

New Democrat Coalition

A moderate caucus within House Democrats described as the largest caucus expected in the new Congress

Democratic Socialists of America

A political organization that has backed a handful of newly elected Democrats pushing the party leftward

Reconstruction era

The turbulent post-Civil War period when the first Black American was elected to the U.S. House