House Committee Party Ratios:
98^th-114^th Congresses

December 7, 2015 (R40478)
Jump to Main Text of Report

Introduction
Sources and Method

Tables

Table 1. Comparison of Majority Party Strength in House Chamber and Total Committee Seats: 98^th-114^th Congresses (1983-2017)
Table 2. House Committee Party Ratios 114^th Congress (2015-2017)
Table 3. House Committee Party Ratios 113^th Congress (2013-2015)
Table 4. House Committee Party Ratios 112^th Congress (2011-2013)
Table 5. House Committee Party Ratios 111^th Congress (2009-2011)
Table 6. House Committee Party Ratios 110^th Congress (2007-2009)
Table 7. House Committee Party Ratios 109^th Congress (2005-2007)
Table 8. House Committee Party Ratios 108^th Congress (2003-2005)
Table 9. House Committee Party Ratios 107^th Congress (2001-2003)
Table 10. House Committee Party Ratios 106^th Congress (1999-2001)
Table 11. House Committee Party Ratios 105^th Congress (1997-1999)
Table 12. House Committee Party Ratios 104^th Congress (1995-1997)
Table 13. House Committee Party Ratios 103^rd Congress (1993-1995)
Table 14. House Committee Party Ratios 102^nd Congress (1991-1993)
Table 15. House Committee Party Ratios 101^st Congress (1989-1991)
Table 16. House Committee Party Ratios 100^th Congress (1987-1989)
Table 17. House Committee Party Ratios 99^th Congress (1985-1987)
Table 18. House Committee Party Ratios 98^th Congress (1983-1985)

Summary

The party ratio in a House of Representatives standing committee refers to 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 following a general election and at the beginning of a Congress.

The Standing Rules of the House of Representatives are silent regarding committee sizes and party ratios; the apportionment of committee seats is a decision of the majority leadership that may include discussions between majority and minority party leaderships. Historically, the number of majority seats on many committees has exceeded, in varying degrees, the strength of the majority party in the House chamber, regardless of which party has been in power. In instances of close party division in the House chamber, the majority party has generally ensured that it has a majority sufficient to control voting in committees. The exception has been the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, for which House Rules guarantee an equal share of the seats to the two parties. While individual committees' ratios may vary substantially from the proportional number of majority and minority Members of the House, the aggregate number of seats better reflects the proportion in the chamber itself, while still favoring the majority party.

This report shows House committee party ratios for 17 Congresses, covering the period from the 98^th Congress (1983-1985) through December 2015, the middle of the 114^th Congress (2015-2017).

Table 1 shows a comparison of majority party strength in the House chamber with total majority committee seats for the 98^th Congress through the beginning of the 114^th Congress. Unfilled seats on committees (if so noted in the Clerk's lists) are counted in individual and overall committee totals for consistency.

Tables 2-18 show for each of the 17 Congresses examined, by majority, minority, and Independents (where present):

House party breakdown and majority margin;
total committee seats, majority and minority committee seats, and majority margin;
the standing and select committees (with legislative jurisdiction) as established and named in each Congress;
committee seats allocated to the majority and minority parties, including Independents (where present), for each committee; and
majority-minority seat margin for each committee.

Committee ratios data for this report are from the earliest available editions of the official committee lists for each Congress issued by the Clerk of the House. Later versions of the Clerk's lists, or the use of alternate sources or methodologies, may yield different results. Independent Members are listed separately, consistent with the Clerk's committee lists. Tables for each Congress include the standing committees and a permanent select committee as established and named in each Congress.

House Committee Party Ratios:
98^th-114^th Congresses

Introduction

The Standing Rules of the House of Representatives are silent regarding committee sizes and party ratios; the apportionment of committee seats is a decision of the majority leadership that may include discussions between majority and minority party leaderships occurring during early organization meetings.¹ Historically, the number of majority seats on most committees has exceeded, in varying degrees, the strength of the majority party in the House chamber, regardless of which party has been in power. In instances of close party division in the House chamber, the majority party has ensured that it has a majority sufficient to guarantee party control in committees. The exception has been the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, for which House Rules guarantee an equal share of the seats to the two parties. While individual committees' ratios may vary substantially from the proportional number of majority and minority Members of the House, the aggregate number of seats better reflects the proportion in the chamber itself, while still favoring the majority party.

This report shows House committee party ratios for 17 Congresses from the 98^th Congress (1983-1985) through the 114^th Congress (2015-2017). Tables for each Congress include the standing committees and a permanent select committee as established and named in each Congress. An additional table (Table 1) provides a comparison of majority party strength in the House chamber and total committee seats.

Sources and Method

The data presented in this report are drawn from the official lists of standing committees and a select committee published by the Clerk of the House early in each Congress.² The data reflect the full number of seats assigned to each party, even in instances when some assignments made by a party left seats unfilled.³ Data on overall party strength in the House are taken from historical tables in the 2009-2010 Official Congressional Directory, 111^th Congress, for the 98^th through 111^th Congresses.⁴ The data for the 112^th-114^th Congresses are from the Clerk of the House website.⁵

Independent Members are listed separately, consistent with the Clerk's committee lists. The Delegates representing American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, are included in the figures for total number of committee seats.⁶ They are not included in total House data; total House data and percentages are based on 435 Members. For most Congresses, the total party division numbers reflect party strength after the November elections; they do not reflect changes due to deaths or resignations followed by special elections, or changes in party affiliation after the beginning of the Congress.⁷

Table 1 shows a comparison of majority party strength in the House chamber with total majority committee seats for the 98^th Congress through the 114^th Congress. Unfilled seats on committees (if so noted in the Clerk's lists) are counted in individual and overall committee totals for consistency.

Tables 2-18 show for each of the 17 Congresses examined, by majority, minority, and Independents (where present):

House party breakdown and majority margin;
total committee seats, majority and minority committee seats, and majority margin;
the standing and select committees (with legislative jurisdiction) as established and named in each Congress;
committee seats allocated to the majority and minority parties, including Independents (where present), for each committee; and
majority-minority seat margin for each committee.

Table 1. Comparison of Majority Party Strength in House Chamber and Total Committee Seats: 98^th-114^th Congresses (1983-2017)

Congress	Majority Party	Majority % of House Chamber	Majority % Total Committee Seats	% Difference of Majority Between House Chamber and Total Committees Seats
114^th	Republican	56.7%	58.3%	1.6%
113^th	Republican	53.8%	56.0%	2.2%
112^th	Republican	55.6%	57.4%	1.8%
111^th	Democratic	59.1%	60.4%	1.3%
110^th	Democratic	53.6%	55.5%	1.9%
109^th	Republican	53.3%	55.5%	2.2%
108^th	Republican	52.6%	54.6%	2.0%
107^th	Republican	50.8%	54.6%	3.8%
106^th	Republican	51.3%	54.9%	3.6%
105^th	Republican	52.0%	55.4%	3.4%
104^th	Republican	52.9%	55.3%	2.4%
103^rd	Democratic	59.3%	61.2%	1.9%
102^nd	Democratic	61.4%	62.1%	0.7%
101^st	Democratic	59.8%	61.2%	1.4%
100^th	Democratic	59.3%	61.0%	1.7%
99^th	Democratic	58.2%	60.4%	2.2%
98^th	Democratic	61.8%	64.2%	2.4%

Source: Data are from the official committee lists issued by the Clerk of the House. The Clerk's lists used are the earliest available editions. Percentages are rounded. Data for the House chamber are based on a total of 435 Members, except for the 114^th Congress, which had one vacancy at the time of this update in December 2015.

Table 2. House Committee Party Ratios 114^th Congress (2015-2017)

	Distribution of Seats			Majority-Minority Seat Margin
	Total	Majority (R)	Minority (D)
Total House Members	434^a	246	188	58
Total Committee Seats	785	458	327	131
Committee
Agriculture	45	26	19	7
Appropriations	51	30	21	9
Armed Services	63	36	27	9
Budget	36	22	14	8
Education and the Workforce	38	22	16	6
Energy and Commerce	54	31	23	8
Ethics	10	5	5	0
Financial Services	60	34	26	8
Foreign Affairs	44	25	19	6
Homeland Security	30	18	12	6
House Administration	9	6	3	3
Judiciary	39	23	16	7
Natural Resources	44	26	18	8
Oversight and Government Reform	43	25	18	7
Rules	13	9	4	5
Science, Space, and Technology	39	22	17	5
Small Business	24	14	10	4
Transportation and Infrastructure	59	34	25	9
Veterans' Affairs	24	14	10	4
Ways and Means	39	24	15	9
Permanent Select on Intelligence	21	12	9	3

Source: List of Standing Committees and Select Committees and their Subcommittees of the House of Representatives of the United States together with Joint Committees of the Congress with an Alphabetical List of the Members and their Committee Assignments, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Prepared under the direction of Karen L. Haas, Clerk of the House of Representatives, November 5, 2015 (Washington: GPO, 2015).

a. At the time of this update, there is one vacancy in the House of Representatives, due to the resignation of Speaker of the House John A. Boehner, effective October 31, 2015. Although this affects the overall number of House Members and the majority-minority seat margin, it does not affect the other data related to committee seats, since Boehner did not serve on any committees at the time of his resignation.

Table 3. House Committee Party Ratios 113^th Congress (2013-2015)

	Distribution of Seats			Majority-Minority Seat Margin
	Total	Majority (R)	Minority (D)
Total House Members	435	234	201	33
Total Committee Seats	802	449	353	96
Committee
Agriculture	46	25	21	4
Appropriations	51	29	22	7
Armed Services	62	34	28	6
Budget	39	22	17	5
Education and the Workforce	41	23	18	5
Energy and Commerce	54	30	24	6
Ethics	10	5	5	0
Financial Services	61	33	28	5
Foreign Affairs	46	25	21	4
Homeland Security	32	18	14	4
House Administration	9	6	3	3
Judiciary	40	23	17	6
Natural Resources	47	26	21	5
Oversight and Government Reform	41	23	18	5
Rules	13	9	4	5
Science, Space, and Technology	40	22	18	4
Small Business	25	14	11	3
Transportation and Infrastructure	60	33	27	6
Veterans' Affairs	25	14	11	3
Ways and Means	39	23	16	7
Permanent Select on Intelligence	21	12	9	3

Source: List of Standing Committees and Select Committees and their Subcommittees of the House of Representatives of the United States together with Joint Committees of the Congress with an Alphabetical List of the Members and their Committee Assignments, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Prepared under the direction of Karen L. Haas, Clerk of the House of Representatives, April 16, 2013 (Washington: GPO, 2013).

T able 4. House Committee Party Ratios 112^th Congress (2011-2013)

	Distribution of Seats			Majority-Minority Seat Margin
	Total	Majority (R)	Minority (D)
Total House Members	435	242	193	49
Total Committee Seats	792	455	337	118
Committee
Agriculture	46	26	20	6
Appropriations	50	29	21	8
Armed Services	62	35	27	8
Budget	38	22	16	6
Education and the Workforce	40	23	17	6
Energy and Commerce	54	31	23	8
Ethics	6	3	3	0
Financial Services	61	34	27	7
Foreign Affairs	46	26	20	6
Homeland Security	33	19	14	5
House Administration	9	6	3	3
Judiciary	39	23	16	7
Natural Resources	48	27	21	6
Oversight and Government Reform	40	23	17	6
Rules	13	9	4	5
Science and Technology	40	23	17	6
Small Business	26	15	11	4
Transportation and Infrastructure	59	33	26	7
Veterans' Affairs	26	15	11	4
Ways and Means	37	22	15	7
Permanent Select on Intelligence	19	11	8	3

Source: List of Standing Committees and Select Committees of the House of Representatives of the United States with an Alphabetical List of the Members and their Committee Assignments, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Prepared under the direction of Karen L. Haas, Clerk of the House of Representatives, February 28, 2011 (Washington: GPO, 2011).

Table 5. House Committee Party Ratios 111^th Congress (2009-2011)

	Distribution of Seats				Majority-Minority Seat Margin
	Total	Majority (D)	Minority (R)	Indp.
Total House Members	435	256	178		79
Total Committee Seats	869	525	342	2	183
Committee
Agriculture	46	28	18		10
Appropriations	60	37	23		14
Armed Services	62	37	25		12
Budget	39	24	15		9
Education and Labor	49	29	19	1	10
Energy and Commerce	59	36	23		13
Financial Services	71	42	29		13
Homeland Security	34	21	13		8
House Administration	9	6	3		3
Foreign Affairs	47	28	19		9
Judiciary	40	24	16		8
Natural Resources	49	28	20	1	8
Oversight and Government Reform	41	25	16		9
Rules	13	9	4		5
Science and Technology	44	27	17		10
Small Business	29	17	12		5
Standards of Official Conduct	10	5	5		0
Transportation and Infrastructure	75	45	30		15
Veterans' Affairs	29	18	11		7
Ways and Means	41	26	15		11
Permanent Select on Intelligence	22	13	9		4

Source: List of Standing Committees and Select Committees of the House of Representatives of the United States with an Alphabetical List of the Members and their Committee Assignments, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, Prepared under the direction of Lorraine C. Miller, Clerk of the House of Representatives, February 11, 2009 (Washington: GPO, 2009). Data for total House Member numbers are from S. Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010 Official Congressional Directory, 111^th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.

Table 6. House Committee Party Ratios 110^th Congress (2007-2009)

	Distribution of Seats			Majority-Minority Seat Margin
	Total	Majority (D)	Minority (R)
Total House Members	435	233	202	31
Total Committee Seats	878	487	391	96
Committee
Agriculture	46	25	21	4
Appropriations	66	37	29	8
Armed Services	62	34	28	6
Budget	39	22	17	5
Education and Labor	49	27	22	5
Energy and Commerce	57	31	26	5
Financial Services	70	37	33	4
Homeland Security	34	19	15	4
House Administration	9	6	3	3
Foreign Affairs	50	27	23	4
Judiciary	40	23	17	6
Natural Resources	49	27	22	5
Oversight and Government Reform	41	23	18	5
Rules	13	9	4	5
Science and Technology	44	24	20	4
Small Business	33	18	15	3
Standards of Official Conduct	10	5	5	0
Transportation and Infrastructure	75	41	34	7
Veterans' Affairs	29	16	13	3
Ways and Means	41	24	17	7
Permanent Select on Intelligence	21	12	9	3

Source: List of Standing Committees Together with an Alphabetical List of the Members and their Committee Assignments of the House of Representatives of the United States, the One Hundred Tenth Congress, Prepared under the direction of Lorraine C. Miller, Clerk of the House of Representatives, March 6, 2007 (Washington: GPO, 2007). Data for total House Member numbers are from S. Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010 Official Congressional Directory, 111^th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.

Table 7. House Committee Party Ratios 109^th Congress (2005-2007)

	Distribution of Seats				Majority-Minority Seat Margin
	Total	Majority (R)	Minority (D)	Indp.
Total House Members	435	232	202	1	30
Total Committee Seats	878	487	389	2	98
Committee
Agriculture	46	25	21		4
Appropriations	66	37	29		8
Armed Services	62	34	28		6
Budget	39	22	17		5
Education and the Workforce	49	27	22		5
Energy and Commerce	57	31	26		5
Financial Services	70	37	32	1	5
Government Reform	41	23	17	1	6
Homeland Security	34	19	15		4
House Administration	9	6	3		3
International Relations	50	27	23		4
Judiciary	40	23	17		6
Resources	49	27	22		5
Rules	13	9	4		5
Science	44	24	20		4
Small Business	33	18	15		3
Standards of Official Conduct	10	5	5		0
Transportation and Infrastructure	75	41	34		7
Veterans' Affairs	29	16	13		3
Ways and Means	41	24	17		7
Permanent Select on Intelligence	21	12	9		3

Source: Standing Committees of the House of Representatives of the United States, One Hundred Ninth Congress, Prepared under the direction of Jeff Trandahl, Clerk of the House of Representatives, March 16, 2005 (Washington: GPO, 2005). Data for total House Member numbers are from S. Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010 Official Congressional Directory, 111^th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.

Note: The Committee on Homeland Security was added as a permanent standing committee in organizing the 109^th Congress. See H.Res. 5, agreed to in the House Jan. 4, 2005.

Table 8. House Committee Party Ratios 108^th Congress (2003-2005)

	Distribution of Seats				Majority-Minority Seat Margin
	Total	Majority (R)	Minority (D)	Indp.
Total House Members	435	229	204	1	25
Total Committee Seats	862	471	389	2	82
Committee
Agriculture	51	27	24		3
Appropriations	65	36	29		7
Armed Services	62	33	29		4
Budget	43	24	19		5
Education and the Workforce	49	27	22		5
Energy and Commerce	57	31	26		5
Financial Services	70	37	32	1	5
Government Reform	44	24	19	1	5
House Administration	9	6	3		3
International Relations	49	26	23		3
Judiciary	37	21	16		5
Resources	52	28	24		4
Rules	13	9	4		5
Science	47	25	22		3
Small Business	37	19	18		1
Standards of Official Conduct	10	5	5		0
Transportation and Infrastructure	75	41	34		7
Veterans' Affairs	31	17	14		3
Ways and Means	41	24	17		7
Permanent Select on Intelligence	20	11	9		2

Source: Standing Committees of the House of Representatives of the United States, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Compiled by Jeff Trandahl, Clerk of the House of Representatives, Corrected to March 5, 2003 (Washington: GPO, 2003). Data on the Select Committee on Homeland Security are excluded because the panel was temporary in the 108^th Congress. Data for total House Member numbers are from S. Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010 Official Congressional Directory, 111^th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.

Table 9. House Committee Party Ratios 107^th Congress (2001-2003)

	Distribution of Seats				Majority-Minority Seat Margin
	Total	Majority (R)	Minority (D)	Indp.
Total House Members	435	221	212	2	9
Total Committee Seats	859	469	387	3	82
Committee
Agriculture	51	27	24		3
Appropriations	65	35	29	1	6
Armed Services	60	32	28		4
Budget	43	24	19		5
Education and the Workforce	49	27	22		5
Energy and Commerce	57	31	26		5
Financial Services	70	37	32	1	5
Government Reform	44	24	19	1	5
House Administration	9	6	3		3
International Relations	49	26	23		3
Judiciary	37	21	16		5
Resources	52	28	24		4
Rules	13	9	4		5
Science	47	25	22		3
Small Business	36	19	17		2
Standards of Official Conduct	10	5	5		0
Transportation and Infrastructure	75	41	34		7
Veterans' Affairs	31	17	14		3
Ways and Means	41	24	17		7
Permanent Select on Intelligence	20	11	9		2

Source: List of Standing Committees and Select Committees and Their Subcommittees of the House of Representatives of the United States Together with Joint Committees of the Congress with An Alphabetical List of the Members and Their Committee Assignments, One Hundred Seventh Congress, Prepared under the direction of Jeff Trandahl, Clerk of the House of Representatives, June 28, 2001 (Washington: GPO, 2001). Data on the Select Committee on Homeland Security are excluded because the panel was temporary in the 107^th Congress. Data for total House Member numbers are from S. Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010 Official Congressional Directory, 111^th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.

Table 10. House Committee Party Ratios 106^th Congress (1999-2001)

	Distribution of Seats				Majority-Minority Seat Margin
	Total	Majority (R)	Minority (D)	Indp.
Total House Members	435	223	211	1	12
Total Committee Seats	835	458	375	2	83
Committee
Agriculture	51	27	24		3
Appropriations	61	34	27		7
Armed Services	60	32	28		4
Banking and Financial Services	60	32	27	1	5
Budget	43	24	19		5
Commerce	53	29	24		5
Education and the Workforce	49	27	22		5
Government Reform	44	24	19	1	5
House Administration	9	6	3		3
International Relations	49	26	23		3
Judiciary	37	21	16		5
Resources	52	28	24		4
Rules	13	9	4		5
Science	47	25	22		3
Small Business	36	19	17		2
Standards of Official Conduct	10	5	5		0
Transportation and Infrastructure	75	41	34		7
Veterans' Affairs	31	17	14		3
Ways and Means	39	23	16		7
Permanent Select on Intelligence	16	9	7		2

Source: List of Standing Committees and Select Committees and Their Subcommittees of the House of Representatives of the United States Together with Joint Committees of the Congress with An Alphabetical List of the Members and Their Committee Assignments, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Prepared under the direction of Jeff Trandahl, Clerk of the House of Representatives, March 4, 1999 (Washington: GPO, 1999). Data for total House Member numbers are from S. Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010 Official Congressional Directory, 111^th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.

Table 11. House Committee Party Ratios 105^th Congress (1997-1999)

	Distribution of Seats				Majority-Minority Seat Margin
	Total	Majority (R)	Minority (D)	Indp.
Total House Members	435	226	207	2	19
Total Committee Seats	816	452	362	2	90
Committee
Agriculture	50	27	23		4
Appropriations	60	34	26		8
Banking and Financial Services	58	31	26	1	5
Budget	43	24	19		5
Commerce	51	28	23		5
Education and the Workforce	45	25	20		5
Government Reform and Oversight	44	24	19	1	5
House Oversight	9	6	3		3
International Relations	48	26	22		5
Judiciary	35	20	15		5
National Security	57	31	26		5
Resources	50	27	23		4
Rules	13	9	4		5
Science	46	25	21		4
Small Business	35	19	16		3
Standards of Official Conduct	14	7	7		0
Transportation and Infrastructure	73	40	33		7
Veterans' Affairs	30	17	13		4
Ways and Means	39	23	16		7
Permanent Select on Intelligence	16	9	7		2

Source: List of Standing Committees and Select Committees and Their Subcommittees of the House of Representatives of the United States Together with Joint Committees of the Congress, One Hundred Fifth Congress, Prepared under the direction of Robin H. Carle, Clerk of the House of Representatives, Aug. 4, 1997 (Washington: GPO, 1997). Data for total House Member numbers are from S. Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010 Official Congressional Directory, 111^th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.

Table 12. House Committee Party Ratios 104^th Congress (1995-1997)

	Distribution of Seats				Majority-Minority Seat Margin
	Total	Majority (R)	Minority (D)	Indp.
Total House Members	435	230	204	1	26
Total Committee Seats	786	435	348	3	87
Committee
Agriculture	49	27	22		5
Appropriations	56	32	24		8
Banking and Financial Services	50	27	22	1	5
Budget	42	24	18		6
Commerce	46	25	21		4
Economic and Educational Opportunities	43	24	19		5
Government Reform and Oversight	50	27	22	1	5
House Oversight	12	7	5		2
International Relations	43	23	19	1	4
Judiciary	35	20	15		5
National Security	55	30	25		5
Resources	45	25	20		5
Rules	13	9	4		5
Science	50	27	23		4
Small Business	41	22	19		3
Standards of Official Conduct	10	5	5		0
Transportation and Infrastructure	61	33	28		5
Veterans' Affairs	33	18	15		3
Ways and Means	36	21	15		6
Permanent Select on Intelligence	16	9	7		2

Source: List of Standing Committees and Select Committees and Their Subcommittees of the House of Representatives of the United States Together with Joint Committees of the Congress, One Hundred Fourth Congress, Prepared under the direction of Robin H. Carle, Clerk of the House of Representatives, March 22, 1995 (Washington: GPO, 1995). Data for total House Member numbers are from S. Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010 Official Congressional Directory, 111^th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.

Note: In adopting the rules for the 104^th Congress, the House eliminated three standing committees: District of Columbia, Merchant Marine and Fisheries, and Post Office and Civil Service. See H.Res. 6, agreed to in the House Jan. 4, 1995.

Table 13. House Committee Party Ratios 103^rd Congress (1993-1995)

	Distribution of Seats				Majority-Minority Seat Margin
	Total	Majority (D)	Minority (R)	Indp.
Total House Members	435	258	176	1	82
Total Committee Seats	889	544	343	2	201
Committee
Agriculture	45	27	18		9
Appropriations	60	37	23		14
Armed Services	56	34	22		12
Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs	51	30	20	1	10
Budget	43	26	17		9
District of Columbia	12	8	4		4
Education and Labor	42	27	15		12
Energy and Commerce	44	27	17		10
Foreign Affairs	45	27	18		9
Government Operations	42	25	16	1	9
House Administration	19	12	7		5
Judiciary	35	21	14		7
Merchant Marine and Fisheries	46	28	18		10
Natural Resources	43	28	15		13
Post Office and Civil Service	24	15	9		6
Public Works and Transportation	63	39	24		15
Rules	13	9	4		5
Science, Space and Technology	55	33	22		11
Small Business	45	27	18		9
Standards of Official Conduct	14	7	7		0
Veterans' Affairs	35	21	14		7
Ways and Means	38	24	14		10
Permanent Select on Intelligence	19	12	7		5

Source: List of Standing Committees and Select Committees and Their Subcommittees of the House of Representatives of the United States Together with Joint Committees of the Congress, One Hundred Third Congress, Prepared under the direction of Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the House of Representatives, Feb. 25, 1993 (Washington: GPO, 1993). Data for total House Member numbers are from S. Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010 Official Congressional Directory, 111^th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.

Table 14. House Committee Party Ratios 102^nd Congress (1991-1993)

	Distribution of Seats				Majority-Minority Seat Margin
	Total	Majority (D)	Minority (R)	Indp.
Total House Members	435	267	167	1	100
Total Committee Seats	870	540	328	2	212
Committee
Agriculture	45	27	18		9
Appropriations	59	37	22		15
Armed Services	55	33	22		11
Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs	52	31	20	1	11
Budget	37	23	14		9
District of Columbia	12	8	4		4
Education and Labor	39	25	14		11
Energy and Commerce	43	27	16		11
Foreign Affairs	46	28	18		10
Government Operations	41	25	15	1	10
House Administration	24	15	9		6
Interior and Insular Affairs	46	29	17		12
Judiciary	34	21	13		8
Merchant Marine and Fisheries	46	29	17		12
Post Office and Civil Service	23	15	8		7
Public Works and Transportation	57	36	21		15
Rules	13	9	4		5
Science, Space and Technology	51	32	19		13
Small Business	44	27	17		10
Standards of Official Conduct	14	7	7		0
Veterans' Affairs	34	21	13		8
Ways and Means	36	23	13		10
Permanent Select on Intelligence	19	12	7		5

Source: List of Standing Committees and Select Committees and Their Subcommittees of the House of Representatives of the United States Together with Joint Committees of the Congress, One Hundred Second Congress, Prepared under the direction of Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the House of Representatives, March 25, 1991 (Washington: GPO, 1991). Data for total House Member numbers are from S. Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010 Official Congressional Directory, 111^th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.

Table 15. House Committee Party Ratios 101^st Congress (1989-1991)

	Distribution of Seats			Majority-Minority Seat Margin
	Total	Majority (D)	Minority (R)
Total House Members	435	260	175	85
Total Committee Seats	842	515	327	188
Committee
Agriculture	45	27	18	9
Appropriations	57	35	22	13
Armed Services	54	32	22	10
Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs	51	31	20	11
Budget	35	21	14	7
District of Columbia	12	8	4	4
Education and Labor	35	22	13	9
Energy and Commerce	43	26	17	9
Foreign Affairs	47	28	19	9
Government Operations	39	24	15	9
House Administration	21	13	8	5
Interior and Insular Affairs	41	26	15	11
Judiciary	35	21	14	7
Merchant Marine and Fisheries	45	27	18	9
Post Office and Civil Service	24	15	9	6
Public Works and Transportation	51	31	20	11
Rules	13	9	4	5
Science, Space and Technology	49	30	19	11
Small Business	44	27	17	10
Standards of Official Conduct	12	6	6	0
Veterans' Affairs	34	21	13	8
Ways and Means	36	23	13	10
Permanent Select on Intelligence	19	12	7	5

Source: List of Standing Committees and Select Committees and Their Subcommittees of the House of Representatives of the United States Together with Joint Committees of the Congress, One Hundred First Congress, Prepared under the direction of Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the House of Representatives, Jan. 23, 1989 (Washington: GPO, 1989). Data for total House Member numbers are from S. Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010 Official Congressional Directory, 111^th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.

Table 16. House Committee Party Ratios 100^th Congress (1987-1989)

	Distribution of Seats			Majority-Minority Seat Margin
	Total	Majority (D)	Minority (R)
Total House Members	435	258	177	81
Total Committee Seats	824	503	321	182
Committee
Agriculture	43	26	17	9
Appropriations	57	35	22	13
Armed Services	52	31	21	10
Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs	51	31	20	11
Budget	35	21	14	7
District of Columbia	12	8	4	4
Education and Labor	34	21	13	8
Energy and Commerce	42	25	17	8
Foreign Affairs	45	27	18	9
Government Operations	41	24	17	7
House Administration	19	12	7	5
Interior and Insular Affairs	41	26	15	11
Judiciary	35	21	14	7
Merchant Marine and Fisheries	42	25	17	8
Post Office and Civil Service	22	14	8	6
Public Works and Transportation	52	32	20	12
Rules	13	9	4	5
Science, Space and Technology	45	27	18	9
Small Business	44	27	17	10
Standards of Official Conduct	12	6	6	0
Veterans' Affairs	34	21	13	8
Ways and Means	36	23	13	10
Permanent Select on Intelligence	17	11	6	5

Source: Standing Committees and Select Committees and Their Subcommittees of the House of Representatives of the United States Together with Joint Committees of the Congress, One Hundredth Congress, Prepared under the direction of Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the House of Representatives, Corrected to Feb. 19, 1987 (Washington: GPO, 1987). Data for total House Member numbers are from S. Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010 Official Congressional Directory, 111^th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.

Table 17. House Committee Party Ratios 99^th Congress (1985-1987)

	Distribution of Seats			Majority-Minority Seat Margin
	Total	Majority (D)	Minority (R)
Total House Members	435	253	182	71
Total Committee Seats	797	481	316	165
Committee
Agriculture	43	26	17	9
Appropriations	57	35	22	13
Armed Services	47	27	20	7
Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs	49	30	19	11
Budget	33	20	13	7
District of Columbia	12	8	4	4
Education and Labor	32	19	13	6
Energy and Commerce	42	25	17	8
Foreign Affairs	42	25	17	8
Government Operations	39	23	16	7
House Administration	19	12	7	5
Interior and Insular Affairs	41	25	16	9
Judiciary	35	21	14	7
Merchant Marine and Fisheries	42	25	17	8
Post Office and Civil Service	22	14	8	6
Public Works and Transportation	48	29	19	10
Rules	13	9	4	5
Science and Technology	41	24	17	7
Small Business	42	25	17	8
Standards of Official Conduct	12	6	6	0
Veterans' Affairs	34	20	14	6
Ways and Means	36	23	13	10
Permanent Select on Intelligence	16	10	6	4

Source: List of Standing Committees and Select Committees and Their Subcommittees of the House of Representatives of the United States Together with Joint Committees of the Congress, Ninety-Ninth Congress, Prepared under the direction of Benjamin J. Guthrie, Clerk of the House of Representatives, April 25, 1985 (Washington: GPO, 1985). Data for total House Member numbers are from S. Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010 Official Congressional Directory, 111^th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.

Table 18. House Committee Party Ratios 98^th Congress (1983-1985)

	Distribution of Seats			Majority-Minority Seat Margin
	Total	Majority (D)	Minority (R)
Total House Members	435	269	166	103
Total Committee Seats	779	500	279	221
Committee
Agriculture	41	26	15	11
Appropriations	57	36	21	15
Armed Services	45	29	16	13
Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs	47	30	17	13
Budget	31	20	11	9
District of Columbia	12	8	4	4
Education and Labor	32	21	11	10
Energy and Commerce	42	27	15	12
Foreign Affairs	37	24	13	11
Government Operations	39	25	14	11
House Administration	19	12	7	5
Interior and Insular Affairs	42	28	14	14
Judiciary	31	20	11	9
Merchant Marine and Fisheries	40	26	14	12
Post Office and Civil Service	25	16	9	7
Public Works and Transportation	50	32	18	14
Rules	13	9	4	5
Science and Technology	41	26	15	11
Small Business	41	26	15	11
Standards of Official Conduct	12	6	6	0
Veterans' Affairs	33	21	12	9
Ways and Means	35	23	12	11
Permanent Select on Intelligence	14	9	5	4

Source: Source for data is List of Standing Committees and Select Committees and Their Subcommittees of the House of Representatives of the United States Together with Joint Committees of the Congress, Ninety-Eighth Congress, Prepared under the direction of Benjamin J. Guthrie, Clerk of the House of Representatives, May 2, 1983 (Washington: GPO, 1983). Data for total House Member numbers are from S. Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010 Official Congressional Directory, 111^th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.

Author Contact Information

Matthew Eric Glassman, Analyst on the Congress ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])

[author name scrubbed], Analyst in American National Government ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])

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.

The authors wish to thank Julius C. Jefferson Jr., Knowledge Services Group, for his assistance.

Footnotes

1.	Party rules might state a party's position on the matter. For example, Rules of the Democratic Caucus for the One Hundred Twelfth Congress, adopted November 18, 2010, retained a long-standing provision in Rule 12: "The Democratic Leadership shall work to ensure that committee ratios are at least as representative of the number of Democrats in the House and that each panel include the greatest number of Democrats possible."
2.	The Clerk's lists used in this study are the earliest available editions. Sources and their issuance dates are shown for each table.
3.	Independent Members are listed separately, consistent with the Clerk's committee lists.
4.	S. Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010 Official Congressional Directory, 111^th Congress, (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563. For each Congress, the total party division numbers reflect party strength after the November elections; however, they do not reflect changes after the beginning of the Congress. Reported numbers reflect initial figures in the Clerk's committee lists cited at the end of each table, and will only be updated to reflect corrected clerical anomalies.
5.	The Clerk of the House website is available at http://clerk.house.gov.
6.	Under House Rule III, the Delegates and Resident Commissioner have the same powers and privileges in committees on which they serve as do Members of the House. They have the right to vote in committees on which they serve, accrue seniority, and be appointed to select and conference committees.
7.	For the 114^th Congress, data were not available immediately following the November 2014 elections. The data used for the 114^th Congress were from the Clerk's committee list made available November 5, 2015.

House Committee Party Ratios: 98th-114th Congresses

Contents

Tables

Summary

Introduction

Sources and Method

Footnotes

House Committee Party Ratios:
98^th-114^th Congresses