Age: 70
Occupation: Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Previous TIME 100 Appearances: 0
With a large Democratic majority, Pelosi has passed more than 200 bills, including major initiatives on jobs, health care and energy, and though most of them have been blocked in the Senate, she has established herself as one of the more effective Speakers of the House. The challenge she faces in keeping moderates and liberals together is all the more important the closer Democrats come to a tough election in the fall.