Morphea is a skin condition known as a scleroderma, meaning hard skin.. The skin becomes thick and hard because it contains too much collagen and other proteins. There are two types of scleroderma, a systemic type and a localized type.
When in the minority, the Whip is the second highest position behind the Minority Leader. Of the 25 members who have served as Democratic Whip, five later became House Speaker, eight became Democratic Leader, and two moved over to the Senate.
These leaders are elected every two years in secret balloting of the party caucus or conference. A list of House minority leaders from 1899 to present is available below. The minority leader serves as floor leader of the loyal opposition, and is the minority counterpart to the Speaker. Although many of the basic leadership responsibilities of the minority and majority leaders are similar, the minority leader speaks for minority party and its policies and works to protect the minority's rights. Information on the current activities of the minority leader is available from the The Office of the Minority Leader's website. 1Resigned as Minority Leader on June 13, 1908. 2Elected Minority Leader on December 5, 1908, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Sharp Williams as Minority Leader.