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 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):
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.
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):
Table 1. Comparison of Senate Majority Conference Members in Chamber and Committees: 98th -114th Congresses (1983-2017)
|
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-Minority |
|||||
|
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-Minority |
||||
|
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-Minority |
||||
|
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-Minority |
||||
|
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-Minority |
||||
|
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 |
Majority-Minority |
||||
|
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 |
Majority-Minority |
||||
|
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 |
Majority-Minority |
||||
|
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 possible for Republicans to organize the Senate. S.Res. 8, an historic power-sharing agreement was presented by party leaders and agreed to on January 5, 2001. As a result of one Republican announcing his intention to become an Independent and switch party caucuses in May 2001, the Republicans were reduced to 49 seats and the Democrats, with 50 seats, gained control of the Senate in June 2001. A provision of S.Res. 120, agreed to on June 29, 2001, gave the majority a one seat advantage on every committee of the Senate (except for Ethics). The resolution further provided that no Senator would lose a committee seat by virtue of the resolution.
Senator James M. Jeffords changed party affiliation from Republican to Independent and caucused with Democrats effective June 6, 2001.
|
Distribution of Seats |
Majority-Minority |
|||
|
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.
|
Distribution of Seats |
Majority-Minority |
|||
|
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 |
Majority-Minority |
|||
|
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 |
Majority-Minority |
|||
|
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, in 1993, the Select Committee on Indian Affairs was redesignated as the Committee on Indian Affairs (S.Res. 71).
|
Distribution of Seats |
Majority-Minority |
|||
|
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 |
Source: List of Standing Committees and Subcommittees and Select and Special Committees and Committee Assignments and list of Senators by State of the Senate of the United States Together with Certain Joint Committees of the Congress for the One Hundred Second Congress, Prepared Under the Direction of Walter J. Stewart, Secretary of the Senate, by Barry J. Wolk, Director of Senate Printing Services, Sept. 23, 1991 (Washington: GPO, 1991), S. Pub. 102-9. (Two interim lists were issued: S. Pub. 102-3 (March 25, 1991) and S. Pub. 102-7 (June 21, 1991).)
|
Distribution of Seats |
Majority-Minority |
|||
|
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 |
Source: List of Standing Committees and Subcommittees and Subcommittees and Select and Special Committees and Committee Assignments and List of Senators by State of the Senate of the United States Together with Certain Joint Committees of the One Hundred First Congress, Prepared Under the Direction of Walter J. Stewart, Secretary of the Senate, by Barry J. Wolk, Director of Senate Printing Services, May 19, 1989 (Washington: GPO, 1989), S. Pub. 101-1. (An interim list was issued, S. Pub. 101-1 (March 15, 1989).)
|
Distribution of Seats |
Majority-Minority |
|||
|
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 |
Source: List of Standing Committees and Subcommittees and Subcommittees and Select and Special Committees and Committee Assignments and List of Senators by State of the Senate of the United States Together with Certain Joint Committees of the One Hundredth Congress, Prepared Under the Direction of Walter J. Stewart, Secretary of the Senate, by Barry J. Wolk, Director of Senate Printing Services, July 1, 1987 (Washington: GPO, 1987), S. Pub. 100-1.
|
Distribution of Seats |
Majority-Minority |
||||
|
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 |
|
Source: List of Standing Committees and Select and Special Committees and Committee Assignments and List of Senators by State of the Senate of the United States Together with Certain Joint Committees of the Congress for the Ninety-Ninth Congress (Preliminary), Prepared Under the Direction of Jo-Anne L. Coe, Secretary of the Senate, by Barry J. Wolk, Director of Senate Printing Services, April 1, 1985 (Washington: GPO, 1985), S. Pub. 99-2. (All the Secretary of the Senate committee lists in this Congress were marked preliminary. Later preliminary versions were S. Pub. 99-6 (May 1, 1985), S. Pub. 99-9 (October 1, 1985), and S. Pub. 99-15 (August 1, 1986).)
|
Distribution of Seats |
Majority-Minority |
|||
|
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 |
Source: Congressional Directory, 98th Cong., 1st sess. (Washington: GPO, 1983). Data are based on closing date for compiling Directory material, March 31, 1983.
Note: In 1984, the Select Committee on Indian Affairs was made a permanent committee of the Senate (S. Res. 127).
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. |