The stunning removal of Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker has left the House effectively paralyzed. Republicans on Wednesday struggled to bring order to their fractured majority and begin the difficult – and potentially prolonged – process of uniting around a new leader.The House will try to elect a speaker as soon as next week, but the timing is nowhere near certain as Republicans line up for their chance at the gavel amid the bitter divisions that sparked the chaos. The members currently in the running are Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan. It is unclear if either candidate will have the 218 votes needed to secure the speakership and unite the conference.Nevertheless, here is how the process will play out:No House without a speakerChoosing a speaker will be the first vote the House will take before lawmakers are able to get back to work on legislation. The chamber cannot organize until it has a speaker since that person effectively serves as the House's presiding officer and the institution's administrative head. The House can elect a new speaker at any time if the person occupying that role dies, resigns or is removed from office. Barring that, a speaker is normally elected at the start of a new Congress.Lawmakers call out the name of their choice for speaker from the floor, a rare and time-consuming roll call that heightens the drama on the floor. Members often liven up the proceedings by shouting or standing when casting their vote.Who can be nominated? Following McCarthy's ouster, the Republican conference will hold an informal vote among their members to decide who they want to nominate to lead their party. The Democrats have already tapped Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York to lead the caucus as minority leader, which won't change, and he will certainly be the Democrats' nominee for speaker.McCarthy won the majority of the Republican vote in a closed-door meeting in November 2022. After announcing Tuesday that he won't seek reelection, he will not be the choice this time around. Who will be the GOP choice is unknown, though numerous members are currently working behind the scenes to gauge their chances.Nevertheless, even if someone is chosen in the closed-door meeting, once the vote comes along, members are not obligated to vote for the party's chosen candidate, which could lead to more fireworks on the House floor.Also, while it has been the tradition for the speaker candidate to be a member of the House, it is not required. In past years, President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump and even a senator, Republican Rand Paul of Kentucky, have received votes for House speaker.To be sure, none of them received the majority of the vote. Video below: Biden comments on House speaker ousterLet the voting beginOnce the House is in a quorum – meaning the minimum number of members are present to proceed – the speaker nominee from each party will be read aloud by the respective leaders before a roll call vote to elect a new speaker. The clerk then appoints lawmakers from each party as tellers to tally the votes.The candidate to become speaker needs a majority of the votes from House members who are present and voting.Historically, the magical number has been 218 out of the 435 members of the House. But many previous speakers, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have ascended to the dais with fewer votes than that, as some members voted present instead of calling out a name. Every lawmaker voting "present" lowers the overall tally needed to reach a majority.Passing of the gavelOnce a speaker candidate wins a majority of the vote, the clerk will announce the results of the election.A bipartisan committee, usually consisting of members from the home state of the chosen candidate, will then escort the speaker-elect to the chair on the dais where the oath of office is administered. The oath is identical to the one new members will take once a speaker is chosen.The outgoing speaker will usually join the successor at the speaker's chair, where they will pass the gavel as a nod to the peaceful transition of power from one party leader to another. It is unclear if McCarthy will participate in this tradition.