Senate leadership - Revision history

Avelino Maestas: /* Republican Leadership */

2009-06-17T21:39:54Z

Republican Leadership

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:39, June 17, 2009
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	\|-		\|-
	\|Policy Committee Chairman		\|Policy Committee Chairman
−	\|~~[[John Ensign]] (Nev.)~~	+	\|TBD
	\|-		\|-
	\|Chairman of the NRSC		\|Chairman of the NRSC

Avelino Maestas at 02:23, February 28, 2009

2009-02-28T02:23:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:23, February 28, 2009
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	===Democratic Leadership===		===Democratic Leadership===
	The Senate [[Democratic Party\|Democratic]] caucus selected the following members to serve as their leadership in the 111th Congress:		The Senate [[Democratic Party\|Democratic]] caucus selected the following members to serve as their leadership in the 111th Congress:
−	{\| class="~~prettytable~~"	+	{\| class="wikitable"
−		+
	!Position		!Position
	!Member		!Member
		+	\|-
		+	\|President of the Senate
		+	\|[[Joe Biden]] (Vice President of the United States)
	\|-		\|-
	\|Majority Leader<br>Chairman of Democratic Caucus		\|Majority Leader<br>Chairman of Democratic Caucus
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	The Senate [[Republican Party\|Republican]] caucus selected the following members to serve as their leadership in the 111th Congress:		The Senate [[Republican Party\|Republican]] caucus selected the following members to serve as their leadership in the 111th Congress:

−	{\| class="~~prettytable~~"	+	{\| class="wikitable"

	!Position		!Position

WikiSysop: Import from Congresspedia

2009-02-23T15:55:52Z

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Agp at 02:52, February 19, 2009

2009-02-19T02:52:34Z

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WikiSysop: Import from Congresspedia

2009-02-03T22:12:40Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 22:12, February 3, 2009
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	==Current Senate Leadership==		==Current Senate Leadership==
		+	===Democratic Leadership===
		+	The Senate [[Democratic Party\|Democratic]] caucus selected the following members to serve as their leadership in the 111th Congress:
		+	{\| class="prettytable"

−	~~===Democratic leadership for the 110th Congress===~~	+	!Position
−	~~<table border="1">~~	+	!Member
−	~~<tr><th>Position</th><th>~~Member~~</th></tr>~~	+	\|-
−	~~<tr>~~	+	\|Majority Leader<br>Chairman of Democratic Caucus
−	~~<td>~~Majority Leader<br>~~Chair~~ of ~~the~~ Democratic ~~Conference</td><td>~~[[Harry Reid]] (Nev.)~~</td></tr>~~	+	\|[[Harry Reid]] (Nev.)
−	~~<tr>~~	+	\|-
−	~~<td>~~Majority Whip~~</td><td>~~[[Dick Durbin]] (Ill.)~~</td></tr>~~	+	\|Majority Whip
−	~~<tr>~~	+	\|[[Dick Durbin]] (Ill.)
−	~~<td>Conference Secretary*</td><td>~~[[~~Patty Murray~~]] (~~Wash~~.)~~</td></tr>~~	+	\|-
−	~~<tr>~~	+	\|Vice-chair of Democratic Caucus
−	~~<td>Vice-~~Chairman of ~~the Conference*</td><td>~~[[~~Chuck Schumer~~]] (N.Y.) ~~</td></tr>~~	+	\|[[Charles Schumer]] (N.Y)
−	~~<tr><td>Steering Committee Chairperson*</td><td>~~[[~~Debbie Stabenow~~]] (~~Mich~~.)~~</td></tr>~~	+	\|-
−	~~<tr><td>DSCC Chairperson*</td><td>~~[[~~Chuck Schumer~~]] (~~N.Y~~.)~~</td></tr>~~	+	\|Chairman of DSCC
−	~~</table>~~	+	\|[[Robert Menendez]] (N.J.)
		+	\|-
		+	\|Conference secretary
		+	\|[[Patty Murray]] (Wash.)
		+	\|-
		+	\|Chair of the steering committee
		+	\|[[Debbie Stabenow]] (Mich.)
		+	\|}

−	===Republican ~~leadership for the 110th Congress~~===	+	===Republican Leadership===
−	~~<table border~~="1">	+	The Senate [[Republican Party\|Republican]] caucus selected the following members to serve as their leadership in the 111th Congress:
−	~~<tr><th>~~Position~~</th><th>~~Member~~</th></tr>~~	+
−	~~<tr>~~	+	{\| class="prettytable"
−	~~<td>~~Minority Leader~~</td><td>~~[[Mitch McConnell]] (Ky.)~~</td></tr>~~	+
−	~~<tr>~~	+	!Position
−	~~<td>~~Minority Whip~~</td><td>~~[[~~Trent Lott~~]] (~~Miss~~.)~~</td></tr>~~	+	!Member
−	~~<tr>~~	+	\|-
−	~~<td>~~Conference ~~Chairperson*</td><td>~~[[Lamar Alexander]] (Tenn.)~~</td></tr>~~	+	\|Minority Leader
−	~~<tr>~~	+	\|[[Mitch McConnell]] (Ky.)
−	~~<td>Policy Committee~~ Chair*</td><td>[[~~Kay Bailey Hutchison~~]] (~~Texas~~)~~</td></tr>~~	+	\|-
−	~~<tr>~~	+	\|Minority Whip
−	~~<td>Conference Vice~~-~~Chairperson*</td><td>~~[[John ~~Cornyn~~]] (~~Texas~~)~~</td></tr>~~	+	\|[[Jon Kyl]] (Ariz.)
−	~~<tr>~~	+	\|-
−	~~<td>~~Chairman of NRSC*</td><td>[[John ~~Ensign~~]] (~~Nev.~~)~~</td></tr>~~	+	\|Conference Chair
−	~~</table>~~	+	\|[[Lamar Alexander]] (Tenn.)
−	~~<nowiki>*</nowiki>Position is not an official Senate leadership position but is part of the conference leadership~~	+	\|-
		+	\|Conference Vice-Chair
		+	\|[[John Thune]] (S.D.)
		+	\|-
		+	\|Policy Committee Chairman
		+	\|[[John Ensign]] (Nev.)
		+	\|-
		+	\|Chairman of the NRSC
		+	\|[[John Cornyn]] (Texas)
		+	\|}

	==Senate Majority Leader==		==Senate Majority Leader==
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	==Past Senate leadership==		==Past Senate leadership==
		+	===110th Congress (2007-2008)===
		+	====Democratic leadership for the 110th Congress====
		+	<table border="1">
		+	<tr><th>Position</th><th>Member</th></tr>
		+	<tr>
		+	<td>Majority Leader<br>Chair of the Democratic Conference</td><td>[[Harry Reid]] (Nev.)</td></tr>
		+	<tr>
		+	<td>Majority Whip</td><td>[[Dick Durbin]] (Ill.)</td></tr>
		+	<tr>
		+	<td>Conference Secretary*</td><td>[[Patty Murray]] (Wash.)</td></tr>
		+	<tr>
		+	<td>Vice-Chairman of the Conference*</td><td>[[Chuck Schumer]] (N.Y.) </td></tr>
		+	<tr><td>Steering Committee Chairperson*</td><td>[[Debbie Stabenow]] (Mich.)</td></tr>
		+	<tr><td>DSCC Chairperson*</td><td>[[Chuck Schumer]] (N.Y.)</td></tr>
		+	</table>
		+
		+	====Republican leadership for the 110th Congress====
		+	<table border="1">
		+	<tr><th>Position</th><th>Member</th></tr>
		+	<tr>
		+	<td>Minority Leader</td><td>[[Mitch McConnell]] (Ky.)</td></tr>
		+	<tr>
		+	<td>Minority Whip</td><td>[[Trent Lott]] (Miss.)</td></tr>
		+	<tr>
		+	<td>Conference Chairperson*</td><td>[[Lamar Alexander]] (Tenn.)</td></tr>
		+	<tr>
		+	<td>Policy Committee Chair*</td><td>[[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] (Texas)</td></tr>
		+	<tr>
		+	<td>Conference Vice-Chairperson*</td><td>[[John Cornyn]] (Texas)</td></tr>
		+	<tr>
		+	<td>Chairman of NRSC*</td><td>[[John Ensign]] (Nev.)</td></tr>
		+	</table>
		+	<nowiki>*</nowiki>Position is not an official Senate leadership position but is part of the conference leadership
		+

	===109th Congress (2005-2006)===		===109th Congress (2005-2006)===

WikiSysop: Import from Congresspedia

2008-11-13T22:11:27Z

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{{congresspedia}}

This page focuses on the positions which comprise the leadership of the [[U.S. Senate]].

==Current Senate Leadership==

===Democratic leadership for the 110th Congress===
<table border="1">
<tr><th>Position</th><th>Member</th></tr>
<tr>
<td>Majority Leader<br>Chair of the Democratic Conference</td><td>[[Harry Reid]] (Nev.)</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Majority Whip</td><td>[[Dick Durbin]] (Ill.)</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Conference Secretary*</td><td>[[Patty Murray]] (Wash.)</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Vice-Chairman of the Conference*</td><td>[[Chuck Schumer]] (N.Y.) </td></tr>
<tr><td>Steering Committee Chairperson*</td><td>[[Debbie Stabenow]] (Mich.)</td></tr>
<tr><td>DSCC Chairperson*</td><td>[[Chuck Schumer]] (N.Y.)</td></tr>
</table>

===Republican leadership for the 110th Congress===
<table border="1">
<tr><th>Position</th><th>Member</th></tr>
<tr>
<td>Minority Leader</td><td>[[Mitch McConnell]] (Ky.)</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Minority Whip</td><td>[[Trent Lott]] (Miss.)</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Conference Chairperson*</td><td>[[Lamar Alexander]] (Tenn.)</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Policy Committee Chair*</td><td>[[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] (Texas)</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Conference Vice-Chairperson*</td><td>[[John Cornyn]] (Texas)</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Chairman of NRSC*</td><td>[[John Ensign]] (Nev.)</td></tr>
</table>
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Position is not an official Senate leadership position but is part of the conference leadership

==Senate Majority Leader==

The '''Senate Majority Leader''' is the highest ranking member of the majority party in the [[U.S. Senate]]. A senator is elected to the post at the beginning of each Congress by members of his/her respective party conference. The Majority Leader is responsible for representing the interests of the majority party on the Senate floor, and also for speaking on behalf of the Senate as an institution. In addition, the leader works with committee leaders and ranking members, schedules business on the floor by calling bills from the calendar, and keeps members of his party advised about the daily legislative program. In consultation with the Minority Leader, the leader also advocates "unanimous consent" agreements by which the Senate limits the amount of time for debate and divides that time between the parties. [http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Majority_Minority_Leaders.htm]

The leader spends much of his/her time on or near the Senate floor, and is responsible for opening the day's proceedings, keeping legislation moving, and protecting the rights and interests of party members. When several senators seek recognition simultaneously, the presiding officer in the Senate will call on the Majority Leader first, then on the Senate Minority Leader, followed by the managers of the bill being debated. This right of first recognition enables the majority leader to offer amendments, substitutes, and motions to reconsider before any other senator. Former Majority Leader [[Robert C. Byrd]] (D-W.Va.) called first recognition, "the most potent weapon in the Majority Leader's arsenal." [http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Majority_Minority_Leaders.htm]

Sen. [[Harry Reid]] (D-Nev.) is the Majority Leader for the [[110th Congress]].

===Parliamentary devices===

====Senate Rule XIII====

According to [[Senate Rule XIII - Reconsideration|Senate Rule XIII]], members voting with the majority are afforded certain priviledges. It states, "Any member on the winning side of any vote has the right to move to reconsider that vote within three days after the vote. If he/she does so, that motion is then put on the Senate calendar." After this movement to reconsider is made, its consideration can be triggered without debate. For a member on the losing side of a vote, he/she must go through all necessary procedural hurdles, such as filing a new motion. Once this occurs, it takes a set amount of time (often days or weeks) for a motion to be reconsidered. [http://blog.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2007/02/senate_rules_a_crash_course.html]

While this parliamentary tactic applies to all members, it has become an important tool for Senate majority leaders, for they control the calendar of the chamber. Former Majority Leader [[Bill Frist]] (R-Tenn.) frequently voted with Democrats on occasions in which he realized a Republican motion was headed for failure, giving himself the ability to easily reconsider the measure again in the near future. [http://blog.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2007/02/senate_rules_a_crash_course.html] After the Democrats took control of the Senate following the [[2006 congressional elections]], Senate Majority Leader [[Harry Reid]] (D-Nev.) used the tactic as well. In one instance, he voted with Republicans on a motion for cloture on a resolution opposing a troop level increase in Iraq. [http://blog.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2007/02/senate_rules_a_crash_course.html]

*See '''Congresspedia''' page on the 2007 congressional debate over [[Troop "surge" in Iraq|escalating the war in Iraq]].

==Senate Minority Leader==

The '''Senate Minority Leader''' is the highest ranking member of the minority party in the [[U.S. Senate]]. Similar to the Majority Leader, a senator is elected to the post at the beginning of each Congress by members of his/her respective party conference. While the post has no official Constitutional responsibilities, historically the Minority Leader is responsible for representing the interests of the minority party both on the Senate floor and in the public. It is the goal of any Minority Leader to maintain cohesion among the members in terms of policy advancements. In addition, the leader works with committee leaders and ranking members, and in consultation with the Senate Majority Leader, also advocates “unanimous consent” agreements by which the Senate limits the amount of time for debate and divides that time between the parties. [http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Majority_Minority_Leaders.htm]

The leader spends much of his/her time on or near the Senate floor. When several senators seek recognition simultaneously, the presiding officer in the Senate will call on the Majority Leader first, then on the Minority Leader, followed by the managers of the bill being debated. [http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Majority_Minority_Leaders.htm]

Sen. [[Mitch McConnell]] (R-Kent.) is the Minority Leader for the [[110th Congress]].

==Senate Whips==

In the Senate, members of both the majority and minority party elect a Whip at the commencement of each Congress. The term "Whip" is originally derived from the British fox hunting term "whipper in," which described the person responsible for keeping the foxhounds from leaving the pack. The title was first used in the British House of Commons in the late 1700s to describe the officials responsible for gathering votes on a given issue. [http://mcconnell.senate.gov/whip_office.cfm]

Both the '''Senate Majority Whip''' and '''Senate Minority Whip''' are primarily responsible for building support among the party's members on key issues. When the Majority Leader cannot be present on the Senate floor, the Majority Whip often serves as the acting floor leader. [http://mcconnell.senate.gov/whip_office.cfm]

For the [[110th Congress]], Sen. [[Dick Durbin]] is the Majority Whip, while Sen. [[Trent Lott]] (R-Miss.) is the Minority Whip. [http://www.cqpolitics.com/2006/11/sen_lott_returns_to_gop_leader.html]

==Past Senate leadership==

===109th Congress (2005-2006)===

====Republican leadership for the 109th Congress====
<table border="1">
<tr><th>Position</th><th>Member</th></tr>
<tr>
<td>Majority Leader<br>Chair of the Republican Conference</td><td>[[Bill Frist]] (Tenn.)</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Majority Whip</td><td>[[Mitch McConnell]] (Ky.)</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Conference Secretary*</td><td>[[Rick Santorum]] (Pa.)</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Vice-Chairman of the Conference*</td><td>[[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] (Texas) </td></tr>
<tr><td>Policy Committee Chairman*</td><td>[[Jon Kyl]] (Ariz.)</td></tr>
<tr><td>RNSC Chairwoman*</td><td>[[Elizabeth Dole]] (N.C.)</td></tr>
</table>

====Democratic leadership for the 109th Congress====
<table border="1">
<tr><th>Position</th><th>Member</th></tr>
<tr>
<td>Minority Leader<br>Chairman of Democratic Conference</td><td>[[Harry Reid]] (Nev.)</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Minority Whip</td><td>[[Dick Durbin]] (Ill.)</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Conference secretary*</td><td>[[Debbie Stabenow]] (Mich.)</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Policy Committee Chair*</td><td>[[Byron Dorgan]] (N.D.)</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Chair of the Steering Committee*</td><td>[[Hillary Clinton]] (N.Y.)</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Chairman of DSCC*</td><td>[[Charles Schumer]] (N.Y)</td></tr>
</table>
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Position is not an official House leadership position but is part of the conference leadership

==Articles and Resources==

===Resources===

*[http://frist.senate.gov/ Office of the Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.)]
*[http://reid.senate.gov/ Office of the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.)]
*[http://mcconnell.senate.gov/whip_office.cfm Office of the Senate Majority Whip, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)]
*[http://durbin.senate.gov/ Office of the Senate Minority Whip, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)]

===Articles===

*[http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Majority_Minority_Leaders.htm, “Majority and Minority Leaders and Party Whips,”] ''U.S. Senate,'' 2006.

[[category:congresspedia]]
[[category:How Congress works]]