Any other week, a rare, mid-session speaker election might be the only news of note in the House, but a confluence of legislative deadlines and a corresponding race for the Ways and Means gavel make for a hectic atmosphere in Speaker John A. Boehner’s final week in Congress.  

Here are five things to watch over four pivotal legislative business days in the House: 1. The speaker’s race.  After weeks of suspenseful twists and turns, Rep. Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., announced on Oct. 22 he is answering the call of his colleagues : He will give up his “dream job” as Ways and Means chairman to run for speaker and lead the fractured GOP conference. He made his candidacy conditional on securing support from three major factions and on members agreeing to accept his demand of no travel on weekends. After announcing Sunday that David Hoppe would be named chief of staff in the speaker’s office, Ryan heads into Wednesday’s secret-ballot nominating election expected to prevail. Still, his hold on the conference is fragile enough to make Thursday’s roll call vote on the House floor a must-see event.