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The party ratio in the Senate standing committees is the proportional number of members of each party caucus assigned to each committee. Determining committee sizes, ratios, and assignments are among the first actions taken after a general election and at the beginning of a Congress.
The standing rules of the Senate are silent on the subject of committee party ratios. The apportionment of committee seats results from discussions between majority and minority party leadership. In general, it has been the practice of the Senate to apportion committee seats to the majority and minority parties in a manner that corresponds closely to the party strength in the full chamber. Findings from this study indicate that the majority party ratios on committees roughly approximate the majority party strength in the Senate chamber, regardless of which party has been in control.
This report shows Senate committee party ratios for 17 Congresses, covering the period of the 98th Congress (1983-1985) through the 114th Congress (2015-2017).
Table 1 shows a comparison of majority party strength in the Senate chamber with total majority committee seats for the 98th Congress through the 114th Congress. Unfilled seats on committees (if so noted in the Secretary of the Senate's lists or theTables 2-18 show the following for each of the 17 Congresses examined, by majority, minority, and Independents (where present):
The committee ratios data for the 99th through 114th Congresses are taken from the official committee lists for each Congress issued by the Secretary of the Senate; the Congressional Directory is the source for the 98th Congress. The earliest editions of these primary documents are the sources for the data, although anomalies in some Congresses, such as a delay in seating a Senator due to a contested election, sometimes necessitated using later versions of the publications. Party strength in each Congress reflects numbers found in the Secretary's lists and the Congressional Directory. Different versions of the Secretary's list and the Congressional Directory, or the use of alternate sources or methodologies, could yield different results.
This report will be updated to reflect Senate committee party ratios in the 115th Congress.
The party ratio in the Senate standing committees is the proportional number of members of each party caucus assigned to each committee. Determining sizes, ratios, and committee assignments are among the first actions taken after a general election and at the beginning of a Congress.
The standing rules of the Senate are silent on the subject of committee party ratios; the apportionment of committee seats results from discussions beginning in the early organization period between majority and minority party leadership.1 In general, the result of these discussions has been to apportion total committee seats to the majority and minority parties in a manner that corresponds to the party strength in the full chamber. A finding of this report indicates that the majority party ratios on committees roughly approximate the majority party strength in the Senate chamber, regardless of which party has been in control.
This report shows Senate committee party ratios for 17 Congresses, covering the period of the 98th Congress (1983-1985) through the 114th Congress (2015-2017). In addition to the standing committees, data on permanent select committees with legislative jurisdiction are also included. An additional table (Table 1) provides a comparison of majority party strength in the Senate chamber and total committee seats. Sources and Method The data presented in this report are drawn from the official committee assignment lists issued by the Secretary of the Senate, after assignments were made in each Congress.2 Data for the 107th Congress reflect committee ratios established after the Senate reorganization in June 2001 as a result of the end of power sharing.3 For the 99th through 114th Congresses, data on overall party strength in the Senate for each Congress were taken from the same lists.4 Overall party strength data for the 98th Congress were taken from the Congressional Directory. The data in this report are from the earliest available complete information of each Congress contained in these two primary documents.5 Table 1 shows a comparison of majority party strength in the Senate chamber with total majority committee seats for the 98th Congress (1983-1985) through the 114th Congress (2015-2017). Unfilled seats on committees (if so noted in the Secretaries' lists or the Congressional Directory) are counted in individual and overall committee totals for consistency.Tables 2-18 show the following for each of the 17 Congresses examined, by majority, minority, and Independents (where present):
|
Congress |
Majority Party |
Majority Conference % of Senate Chamber |
Majority Conference % Total Committee Seats |
% Difference of Majority Conference Between Senate Chamber and Total Committee Seats |
|
114th |
Republican |
54.0% |
54.3% |
0.3% |
|
113th |
Democrat |
54.0% |
53.5% |
-0.5% |
|
112th |
Democrat |
53.0% |
53.7% |
0.7% |
|
111th |
Democrat |
60.0% |
58.3% |
-1.7% |
|
110th |
Democrat |
51.0% |
52.4% |
1.4% |
|
109th |
Republican |
55.0% |
55.0% |
0.0% |
|
108th |
Republican |
51.0% |
52.4% |
1.4% |
|
107th |
Democrat |
51.0% |
52.4% |
1.4% |
|
106th |
Republican |
55.0% |
55.2% |
0.2% |
|
105th |
Republican |
55.0% |
55.2% |
0.2% |
|
104th |
Republican |
53.0% |
54.4% |
1.4% |
|
103rd |
Democrat |
56.0% |
55.8% |
-0.2% |
|
102nd |
Democrat |
57.0% |
56.6% |
-0.4% |
|
101st |
Democrat |
55.0% |
55.0% |
0.0% |
|
100th |
Democrat |
54.0% |
54.8% |
0.8% |
|
99th |
Republican |
53.0% |
53.8% |
0.8% |
|
98th |
Republican |
54.0% |
54.7% |
0.7% |
Source: Data presented in this table are taken from Table 2 through Table 18; sources are cited for each table. Data in this table include Independents who caucused with the majority party. The second-to-last column presents the percentage of total committee seats for the majority conference.
Total
Distribution of Seats
Majority (R)
Minority (D)
Independent (I)
Total Senators
100
54
44
2
8
Total Committee Seats
376
204
162
10
32
Committees
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
20
11
9
2
Appropriations
30
16
14
2
Armed Services
26
14
11
1
2
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
22
12
10
2
Budget
22
12
8
2
2
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
24
13
11
2
Energy and Natural Resources
22
12
8
2
2
Environment and Public Works
20
11
8
1
2
Finance
26
14
12
2
Foreign Relations
19
10
9
1
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
22
12
9
1
2
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
16
9
7
2
Indian Affairs
14
8
6
2
Judiciary
20
11
9
2
Rules and Administration
18
10
7
1
2
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
19
10
9
1
Veterans' Affairs
15
8
6
1
1
Select Committee on Ethics
6
3
3
0
Select Committee on Intelligence
15
8
6
1
1
Source: The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Prepared Under the Direction of Julie E. Adams, Secretary of the Senate, by John J. Merlino, Legislative Clerk, May 13, 2015 (Washington: GPO, 2015), S. Pub. 114-5.
Notes: Senators who caucused with the minority (Democrats): Senator Bernard Sanders, an Independent, and Senator Angus King, an Independent. Margins are calculated by adding these Senators' seats to the minority seats.
The Special Committee on Aging is the only other Senate committee to exist in the 114th Congress (exclusive of Senate assignments to joint committees). It has existed as a permanent committee since 1977. In the 114th Congress, it has total of 20 committee members, 11 Republicans, and 9 Democrats.
Total
Distribution of Seats
Majority (D)
Minority (R)
Independent (I)
Total Senators
100
52
46
2
8
Total Committee Seats
367
192
166
9
35
Committees
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
20
11
9
2
Appropriations
30
16
14
2
Armed Services
26
13
12
1
2
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
22
12
10
2
Budget
22
10
10
2
2
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
24
13
11
2
Energy and Natural Resources
22
11
10
1
2
Environment and Public Works
18
9
8
1
2
Finance
24
13
11
2
Foreign Relations
18
10
8
2
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
22
11
10
1
2
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
16
9
7
2
Indian Affairs
14
8
6
2
Judiciary
18
10
8
2
Rules and Administration
18
9
8
1
2
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
18
10
8
2
Veterans' Affairs
14
7
6
1
2
Select Committee on Ethics
6
3
3
0
Select Committee on Intelligence
15
7
7
1
1
Source: The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Prepared Under the Direction of Nancy Erickson, Secretary of the Senate, by Kathleen Alvarez Tritak, Legislative Clerk, January 30, 2014 (Washington: GPO, 2014), S. Pub. 113-14.
Notes: Senators who caucused with the majority (Democrats): Senator Bernard Sanders, an Independent, and Senator Angus King, an Independent. Margins are calculated by adding these Senators' seats to the majority seats.
The Special Committee on Aging was the only other Senate committee to exist in the 113th Congress (exclusive of Senate assignments to joint committees). It has existed as a permanent committee since 1977. In the 113th Congress, it had total of 20 committee members, 11 Democrats, and 9 Republicans.
Total
Distribution of Seats
Majority (D)
Minority (R)
Indp.-Dem.
Indp.
Total Senators
100
51
47
1
1
6
Total Committee Seats
374
193
173
3
5
28
Committees
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
21
11
10
1
Appropriations
30
16
14
2
Armed Services
26
13
12
1
2
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
22
12
10
2
Budget
23
11
11
1
1
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
25
13
12
1
Energy and Natural Resources
22
11
10
1
2
Environment and Public Works
18
9
8
1
2
Finance
24
13
11
2
Foreign Relations
19
10
9
1
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
22
11
10
1
2
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
17
8
8
1
1
Indian Affairs
14
8
6
2
Judiciary
18
10
8
2
Rules and Administration
18
10
8
2
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
19
9
9
1
1
Veterans' Affairs
15
7
7
1
1
Select Committee on Ethics
6
3
3
0
Select Committee on Intelligence
15
8
7
1
Source: The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Prepared Under the Direction of Nancy Erickson, Secretary of the Senate, by Kathleen Alvarez Tritak, Legislative Clerk, April 8, 2011 (Washington: GPO, 2011), S. Pub. 112-6.
Notes: Senators who caucused with the majority (Democrats): Senator Joseph Lieberman, an Independent-Democrat, and Senator Bernard Sanders, an Independent. Margins are calculated by adding these Senators' seats to the majority seats.
The Special Committee on Aging was the only other Senate committee to exist in the 112th Congress (exclusive of Senate assignments to joint committees). It has existed as a permanent committee since 1977. In the 112th Congress, it has total of 21 committee members, 11 Democrats and 10 Republicans.
Total
Distribution of Seats
Majority (D)
Minority (R)
Indp.-Dem.
Indp.
Total Senators
100
58
40
1
1
20
Total Committee Seats
379
213
158
3
5
63
Committees
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
21
12
9
3
Appropriations
30
18
12
6
Armed Services
26
14
11
1
4
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
23
13
10
3
Budget
23
12
10
1
3
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
25
14
11
3
Energy and Natural Resources
23
12
10
1
3
Environment and Public Works
19
11
7
1
5
Finance
23
13
10
3
Foreign Relations
19
11
8
3
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
23
12
10
1
3
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
17
9
7
1
3
Indian Affairs
15
9
6
3
Judiciary
19
12
7
5
Rules and Administration
19
11
8
3
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
19
10
8
1
3
Veterans' Affairs
15
9
5
1
5
Select Committee on Ethics
6
3
3
0
Select Committee on Intelligence
14
8
6
2
Source: The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Eleventh Congress, Prepared Under the Direction of Nancy Erickson, Secretary of the Senate, by Kathleen Alvarez Tritak, Legislative Clerk, October 19, 2009 (Washington: GPO, 2009), S. Pub. 111-13. (An earlier version dated June 3, 2009 (S. Pub. 111-9), listed 99 Senators while the result of the Minnesota election was not yet resolved.)
Notes: Data in this table reflect the results of a contested election. After the June 30, 2009, Minnesota State Supreme Court ruling, Senator Al Franken was sworn into office on July 7, 2009. Senator Arlen Specter changed his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat on April 30, 2009.
Senator Scott Brown was elected to the Senate in a January 19, 2010, special election, and was sworn into office on February 4, 2010. After that election, the party division changed to 57 (Democrats) and 41 (Republicans).
Senators who caucused with the majority (Democrats): Senator Joseph Lieberman, an Independent-Democrat, and Senator Bernard Sanders, an Independent. Margins are calculated by adding these Senators' seats to the majority seats.
Total
Distribution of Seats
Majority (D)
Minority (R)
Indp.-Dem.
Indp.
Total Senators
100
49
49
1
1
2
Total Committee Seats
372
186
177
4
5
18
Committees
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
21
11
10
1
Appropriations
29
15
14
1
Armed Services
25
12
12
1
1
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
21
11
10
1
Budget
23
11
11
1
1
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
23
12
11
1
Energy and Natural Resources
23
11
11
1
1
Environment and Public Works
19
8
9
1
1
1
Finance
21
11
10
1
Foreign Relations
21
11
10
1
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
21
10
10
1
1
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
17
8
8
1
1
Indian Affairs
15
8
7
1
Judiciary
19
10
9
1
Rules and Administration
19
10
9
1
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
19
9
9
1
1
Veterans' Affairs
15
7
7
1
1
Select Committee on Ethics
6
3
3
0
Select Committee on Intelligence
15
8
7
1
Source: The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Tenth Congress, Prepared Under the Direction of Nancy Erickson, Secretary of the Senate, by David J. Tinsley, Legislative Clerk, April 2, 2007 (Washington: GPO, 2007), S. Pub. 110-5.
Note: Independent Members caucused with the majority (Democrats): Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut was reelected in 2006 as an Independent, and became an Independent-Democrat. Senator Bernard Sanders of Vermont was elected as an Independent.
Distribution of Seats
Total
Majority (R)
Minority (D)
Indp.
Total Senators
100
55
44
1
10
Total Committee Seats
353
194
155
4
35
Committees
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
20
11
9
2
Appropriations
28
15
13
2
Armed Services
24
13
11
2
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
20
11
9
2
Budget
22
12
10
2
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
22
12
10
2
Energy and Natural Resources
22
12
10
2
Environment and Public Works
18
10
7
1
2
Finance
20
11
8
1
2
Foreign Relations
18
10
8
2
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
20
11
8
1
2
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
16
9
7
2
Indian Affairs
14
8
6
2
Judiciary
18
10
8
2
Rules and Administration
18
10
8
2
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
18
10
8
2
Veterans' Affairs
14
8
5
1
2
Select Committee on Ethics
6
3
3
0
Select Committee on Intelligence
15
8
7
1
Source: The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Ninth Congress, Prepared Under the Direction of Emily J. Reynolds, Secretary of the Senate, by David J. Tinsley, Legislative Clerk, April 25, 2005 (Washington: GPO, 2005), S. Pub. 109-10.
Note: Senator James M. Jeffords, an Independent, caucused with the minority (Democrats).
Distribution of Seats
Total
Majority (R)
Minority (D)
Indp.
Total Senators
100
51
48
1
2
Total Committee Seats
372
195
173
4
18
Committees
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
21
11
10
1
Appropriations
29
15
14
1
Armed Services
25
13
12
1
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
21
11
10
1
Budget
23
12
11
1
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
23
12
11
1
Energy and Natural Resources
23
12
11
1
Environment and Public Works
19
10
8
1
1
Finance
21
11
9
1
1
Foreign Relations
19
10
9
1
Governmental Affairs
17
9
8
1
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
21
11
9
1
1
Indian Affairs
15
8
7
1
Judiciary
19
10
9
1
Rules and Administration
19
10
9
1
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
19
10
9
1
Veterans' Affairs
15
8
6
1
1
Select Committee on Ethics
6
3
3
0
Select Committee on Intelligence
17
9
8
1
Source: The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Eighth Congress, Prepared Under the Direction of Emily J. Reynolds, Secretary of the Senate, by David J. Tinsley, Legislative Clerk, March 31, 2003 (Washington: GPO, 2003), S. Pub. 108-5.
Note: Senator James M. Jeffords, an Independent, caucused with the minority (Democrats).
Distribution of Seats
Total
Majority (D)
Minority (R)
Indp.
Total Senators
100
50
49
1
2
Total Committee Seats
372
191
177
4
18
Committees
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
21
11
10
1
Appropriations
29
15
14
1
Armed Services
25
13
12
1
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
21
11
10
1
Budget
23
12
11
1
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
23
12
11
1
Energy and Natural Resources
23
12
11
1
Environment and Public Works
19
9
9
1
1
Finance
21
10
10
1
1
Foreign Relations
19
10
9
1
Governmental Affairs
17
9
8
1
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
21
10
10
1
1
Indian Affairs
15
8
7
1
Judiciary
19
10
9
1
Rules and Administration
19
10
9
1
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
19
10
9
1
Veterans' Affairs
15
7
7
1
1
Select Committee on Ethics
6
3
3
0
Select Committee on Intelligence
17
9
8
1
Source: The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Seventh Congress, Prepared Under the Direction of Jeri Thomson, Secretary of the Senate, by David J. Tinsley, Legislative Clerk, November 29, 2001 (Washington: GPO, 2001), S. Pub. 107-21.
Notes: This table reflects data compiled after the June 2001 end of power sharing. At the beginning of the 107th Congress, the Senate was divided equally between Republicans and Democrats. As a result, Democrats chaired all committees for the first 17 days of the session, and Republicans assumed the committee chairmanships following the inauguration of Vice President Richard Cheney, whose ability to break tie votes made it possibleDistribution of Seats
Total
Majority (R)
Minority (D)
Total Senators
100
55
45
10
Total Committee Seats
339
187
152
35
Committees
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
18
10
8
2
Appropriations
28
15
13
2
Armed Services
20
11
9
2
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
20
11
9
2
Budget
22
12
10
2
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
20
11
9
2
Energy and Natural Resources
20
11
9
2
Environment and Public Works
18
10
8
2
Finance
20
11
9
2
Foreign Relations
18
10
8
2
Governmental Affairs
16
9
7
2
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
18
10
8
2
Indian Affairs
14
8
6
2
Judiciary
18
10
8
2
Rules and Administration
16
9
7
2
Small Business
18
10
8
2
Veterans' Affairs
12
7
5
2
Select Committee on Ethics
6
3
3
0
Select Committee on Intelligence
17
9
8
1
Source: The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Sixth Congress, Prepared Under the Direction of Gary Sisco, Secretary of the Senate, by David J. Tinsley, Legislative Clerk, March 29, 1999 (Washington: GPO, 1999), S. Pub. 106-3.
Table 11. Senate Committee Party Ratios: 105th Congress (1997-1999)Distribution of Seats
Total
Majority (R)
Minority (D)
Total Senators
100
55
45
10
Total Committee Seats
337
186
151
35
Committees
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
18
10
8
2
Appropriations
28
15
13
2
Armed Services
18
10
8
2
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
18
10
8
2
Budget
22
12
10
2
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
20
11
9
2
Energy and Natural Resources
20
11
9
2
Environment and Public Works
18
10
8
2
Finance
20
11
9
2
Foreign Relations
18
10
8
2
Governmental Affairs
16
9
7
2
Labor and Human Resources
18
10
8
2
Indian Affairs
14
8
6
2
Judiciary
18
10
8
2
Rules and Administration
16
9
7
2
Small Business
18
10
8
2
Veterans' Affairs
12
7
5
2
Select Committee on Ethics
6
3
3
0
Select Committee on Intelligence
19
10
9
1
Source: The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Fifth Congress, Prepared Under the Direction of Gary Sisco, Secretary of the Senate, by R. Scott Bates, Legislative Clerk, February 14, 1997 (Washington: GPO, 1997), S. Pub. 105-6. (An interim list was published dated Jan. 9, 1997, S. Pub. 3.)
Distribution of Seats
Total
Majority (R)
Minority (D)
Total Senators
100
53
47
6
Total Committee Seats
331
180
151
29
Committees
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
17
9
8
1
Appropriations
28
15
13
2
Armed Services
21
11
10
1
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
16
9
7
2
Budget
22
12
10
2
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
19
10
9
1
Energy and Natural Resources
18
10
8
2
Environment and Public Works
16
9
7
2
Finance
20
11
9
2
Foreign Relations
18
10
8
2
Governmental Affairs
15
8
7
1
Labor and Human Resources
16
9
7
2
Indian Affairs
17
9
8
1
Judiciary
18
10
8
2
Rules and Administration
16
9
7
2
Small Business
19
10
9
1
Veterans' Affairs
12
7
5
2
Select Committee on Ethics
6
3
3
0
Select Committee on Intelligence
17
9
8
1
Source: The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Fourth Congress, Prepared Under the Direction of Sheila P. Burke, Secretary of the Senate, by R. Scott Bates, Legislative Clerk, February 27, 1995 (Washington: GPO, 1995), S. Pub. 104-6. (An incomplete interim list was published on January 25, 1995, S. Pub. 104-3.)
Note: Data reflect Senator Richard Shelby's party affiliation change from Democrat to Republican, a few days after the 1994 election, on November 9, 1994. Data do not reflect Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell's party affiliation change from Democrat to Republican on March 3, 1995, because it occurred after the February 27, 1995, publication was issued.
Distribution of Seats
Total
Majority (D)
Minority (R)
Total Senators
100
56
44
12
Total Committee Seats
346
193
153
40
Committees
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
18
10
8
2
Appropriations
29
16
13
3
Armed Services
22
12
10
2
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
19
11
8
3
Budget
21
12
9
3
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
20
11
9
2
Energy and Natural Resources
20
11
9
2
Environment and Public Works
17
10
7
3
Finance
20
11
9
2
Foreign Relations
20
11
9
2
Governmental Affairs
14
8
6
2
Labor and Human Resources
17
10
7
3
Indian Affairs
18
10
8
2
Judiciary
18
10
8
2
Rules and Administration
16
9
7
2
Small Business
22
12
10
2
Veterans' Affairs
12
7
5
2
Select Committee on Ethics
6
3
3
0
Select Committee on Intelligence
17
9
8
1
Source: The Senate of the United States Committees and Subcommittees Assignments for the One Hundred Third Congress, Prepared Under the Direction of Walter J. Stewart, Secretary of the Senate, by R. Scott Bates, Legislative Clerk, Nov. 22, 1993 (Washington: GPO, 1993), S. Pub. 103-10. (Prior to this list, there were three interim committee lists: S. Pub. 103-1 (February 19, 1993), S. Pub. 103-3 (March 24, 1993), and S. Pub. 103-7 (July 20, 1993).)
Note: In 1984, the Select Committee on Indian Affairs became a permanent committee (S.Res. 127). Later, inDistribution of Seats
Total
Majority (D)
Minority (R)
Total Senators
100
57
43
14
Total Committee Seats
332
188
144
44
Committees
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
18
10
8
2
Appropriations
29
16
13
3
Armed Services
20
11
9
2
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
21
12
9
3
Budget
21
12
9
3
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
20
11
9
2
Energy and Natural Resources
20
11
9
2
Environment and Public Works
17
10
7
3
Finance
19
11
8
3
Foreign Relations
19
11
8
3
Governmental Affairs
13
8
5
3
Labor and Human Resources
17
10
7
3
Judiciary
14
8
6
2
Rules and Administration
16
9
7
2
Small Business
19
11
8
3
Veterans' Affairs
12
7
5
2
Select Committee on Ethics
6
3
3
0
Select Committee on Indian Affairs
16
9
7
2
Select Committee on Intelligence
15
8
7
1
Distribution of Seats
Total
Majority (D)
Minority (R)
Total Senators
100
55
45
10
Total Committee Seats
327
180
147
33
Committees
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
19
10
9
1
Appropriations
29
16
13
3
Armed Services
20
11
9
2
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
21
12
9
3
Budget
23
13
10
3
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
20
11
9
2
Energy and Natural Resources
19
10
9
1
Environment and Public Works
16
9
7
2
Finance
20
11
9
2
Foreign Relations
19
10
9
1
Governmental Affairs
14
8
6
2
Labor and Human Resources
16
9
7
2
Judiciary
14
8
6
2
Rules and Administration
16
9
7
2
Small Business
19
10
9
1
Veterans' Affairs
11
6
5
1
Select Committee on Ethics
6
3
3
0
Select Committee on Indian Affairs
10
6
4
2
Select Committee on Intelligence
15
8
7
1
Distribution of Seats
Total
Majority(D)
Minority (R)
Total Senators
100
54
46
8
Total Committee Seats
325
178
147
31
Committees
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
19
10
9
1
Appropriations
29
16
13
3
Armed Services
20
11
9
2
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
20
11
9
2
Budget
24
13
11
2
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
20
11
9
2
Energy and Natural Resources
19
10
9
1
Environment and Public Works
16
9
7
2
Finance
20
11
9
2
Foreign Relations
19
10
9
1
Governmental Affairs
14
8
6
2
Labor and Human Resources
16
9
7
2
Judiciary
14
8
6
2
Rules and Administration
16
9
7
2
Small Business
19
10
9
1
Veterans' Affairs
11
6
5
1
Select Committee on Ethics
6
3
3
0
Select Committee on Indian Affairs
8
5
3
2
Select Committee on Intelligence
15
8
7
1
Distribution of Seats
Total
Majority (R)
Minority (D)
Total Senators
100
53
47
6
Total Committee Seats
312
168
144
24
Committees
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
17
9
8
1
Appropriations
29
15
14
1
Armed Services
19
10
9
1
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
15
8
7
1
Budget
22
12
10
2
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
17
9
8
1
Energy and Natural Resources
18
10
8
2
Environment and Public Works
15
8
7
1
Finance
20
11
9
2
Foreign Relations
17
9
8
1
Governmental Affairs
13
7
6
1
Labor and Human Resources
16
9
7
2
Judiciary
18
10
8
2
Rules and Administration
15
8
7
1
Small Business
19
10
9
1
Veterans' Affairs
12
7
5
2
Select Committee on Ethics
6
3
3
0
Select Committee on Indian Affairs
9
5
4
1
Select Committee on Intelligence
15
8
7
1
Distribution of Seats
Total
Majority (R)
Minority (D)
Total Senators
100
54
46
8
Total Committee Seats
320
175
145
30
Committees
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
18
10
8
2
Appropriations
29
15
14
1
Armed Services
18
10
8
2
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
18
10
8
2
Budget
22
12
10
2
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
17
9
8
1
Energy and Natural Resources
20
11
9
2
Environment and Public Works
16
9
7
2
Finance
20
11
9
2
Foreign Relations
17
9
8
1
Governmental Affairs
18
10
8
2
Judiciary
18
10
8
2
Labor and Human Resources
18
10
8
2
Rules and Administration
12
7
5
2
Small Business
19
10
9
1
Veterans' Affairs
12
7
5
2
Select Committee on Ethics
6
3
3
0
Select Committee on Indian Affairs
7
4
3
1
Select Committee on Intelligence
15
8
7
1
Author Contact Information
Acknowledgments
Lorraine Tong was the original author of this report. The listed authors have updated the report and are available to respond to questions related to House/Senate Committee party ratios.
| 1. |
Committee sizes appear in Senate Rule 25, but party leaders regularly negotiate other committee sizes as well as party ratios. |
| 2. |
Data are generally taken from the first official list prepared as a Senate publication, excluding lists marked "interim" or "preliminary," which may be incomplete, under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate. There were some anomalies during the period examined in this report. For example, most of the lists were issued in the spring of the first session of each Congress. In the 99th Congress, all the Secretary's lists were marked preliminary for the entire Congress. The dates of the publications are footnoted for each table. As will be noted, the 107th Congress was an exception due to the unusual circumstances of the equally divided Senate (see footnote 3). The 111th Congress was also an exception due to a contested election, which resulted in delaying for months the seating of one Senator. |
| 3. |
At the beginning of the 107th Congress, the Senate was divided equally between Republicans and Democrats. As a result, Democrats chaired all committees for the first 17 days of the session, and Republicans assumed the committee chairmanships following the inauguration of Vice President Richard Cheney. A power-sharing agreement, S.Res. 8, was presented by party leaders and agreed to on January 5, 2001. In June 2001, after one Republican announced his intention to become an Independent, and switch party caucuses, the Republicans were reduced to 49 seats and the Democrats, with 50 seats, gained control of the Senate. A provision of S.Res. 120, agreed to on June 29, 2001, gave the majority a one seat advantage on each Senate committee (except for the Ethics Committee). The resolution further provided that no Senator would lose a committee seat by virtue of the resolution. For more details, see CRS Report RL30881, Senate Organization in the 107th Congress: Agreements Reached in a Closely Divided Senate, by [author name scrubbed]. |
| 4. |
Party division data cited in the Secretary's committees list may differ with party data published immediately following the November elections. |
| 5. |
Anomalies and caveats are appropriately noted in table footnotes. Use of other versions of the primary documents, and the use of alternate sources or methodologies, may yield different results. For example, data from other sources or time frames reflecting the number of Senators representing a particular party may change during a Congress, due to the death or resignation of a Senator, or as a consequence of a Senator changing party affiliation, and could yield another result. |