Professional Clip 22: John Boehner, Turning Over the Gavel

There were some great achievements during those 12 years that followed. There were also some profound disappointments. If there's one lesson that stands out from our party's time in the majority, it's this: a congressional majority is simply a means to an end. The value of a majority lies, not in the chance to wield great power, but in the chance to use limited power to achieve great things. We refer to the gavel that I'm holding as the “speaker's gavel.” But, like everything else in this chamber, it really belongs to the American people. It's on loan from the real owners. This is the people's house, this is the people's congress. Most people in America don't care who controls it. What they want is a government that is limited, honest, accountable, and responsive to their needs. And the moment a majority forgets this lesson, it begins writing itself a ticket to minority status. The 110th congress will write the next chapter in American history, but the American people will dictate it. Today, the democrat party assumes the challenge and opportunity of majority power in the people's house. Republicans will hold the incoming majority accountable for its promises and its actions. But we also want to work with the incoming majority for the good of our nation that we were all elected to serve.