Democrats reelected Rep. Thomas P. O'Neill (D-Mass.) for his second term as speaker of the House of Representatives yesterday without position.

During his first from as speaker. O'Neill fought to secure the passage of President Carter's energy package and was instrumental in the institution of a new code of ethics for House members.

O'Neill praised the record ot the 95th Congress yesterday, saying that "with Jimmy, Carter as President, the Democratic Congress can and does act as a co-equal partner in the running of government."

Formal election to the speaker's chair will take place when the new Congress convenes in January, but yesterday's nomination is tantamount to acceptance for the 65-year-old O'Neill, since the Democrats hold a 277-158 margin in the newly elected House.

No Sweat

Rep. John J. Rhodes, a 14-term Republican congressman from Arizona, won another two years as GOP leader in the House as both caucuses, meeting separately, expressed tacit approval of their current leadership.

The Democrats also re-elected Texan Representative Jim Wright to his second term as the House majority leader. Wright and O'Neill said they would reappoint Rep. John Brademas of Indiana as Democratic whip and Illinois Rep. Dan Rostenkowski as chief deputy whip.