House Committee Party Ratios: 98th-117th
Congresses
Updated April 16, 2021
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
R40478

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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. Historical y, the
number of majority seats on some committees has exceeded, in varying degrees, the strength of
the majority party in the House chamber, regardless of which party has been in power. This
general y has ensured that the majority party has a sufficient number of members distributed
across committees to control voting in many committees. The exception has been the House
Committee on Ethics (known as the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct prior to the
112th Congress), for which House Rules guarantee an equal share of the seats to the two parties.
This report shows House committee party ratios for 20 Congresses, covering the period from the
98th Congress (1983-1985) through February 2021, the first part of the 117th Congress (2021-
2023).
Table 1 shows a comparison of majority party strength in the House chamber with total majority
committee seats for the 98th Congress through the beginning of the 117th Congress. Unfil ed seats
on committees (if so noted in the Clerk’s lists) are counted in individual and overal committee
totals for consistency.
Tables 2-21 show for each of the 20 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 al ocated 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 official committee lists for each Congress
issued by the Clerk of the House, using editions that general y reflect the party ratios in effect at
the beginning of each Congress. 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 any permanent select committees as established and named in each Congress.
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Introduction
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 occurring during early
organization meetings.1 Historical y, the number of majority seats on some committees has
exceeded, in varying degrees, the strength of the majority party in the House chamber, regardless
of which party has been in power. This general y has ensured that the majority party has a
sufficient number of members distributed across committees to control voting in many
committees. The exception has been the House Committee on Ethics (known as the Committee
on Standards of Official Conduct prior to the 112th Congress), for which House Rules guarantee
an equal share of the seats to the two parties.
This report shows House committee party ratios for 20 Congresses from the 98th Congress (1983-
1985) through the beginning of the 117th Congress (2021-2023). 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 any
permanent select committees 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 unfil ed.3 Data on overal party strength in the House are
taken from historical tables in the 2009-2010 Official Congressional Directory, 111th Congress,
for the 98th through 111th Congresses.4 The data for the 112th-117th 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 wel as the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico,

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: “ T he
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 T he Clerk’s lists used in this study are generally the earliest available editions reflecting party ratios for the
committees at the start of a Congress. 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, 111th Congress, (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563. For
each Congress, the total party division numbers reflect party strength after the November elections; 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 be updated only to reflect corrected clerical anomalies.
5 T he Clerk of the House website is available at http://clerk.house.gov.
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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.
Table 1 shows a comparison of majority party strength in the House chamber with total majority
committee seats for the 98th Congress through the 117th Congress. Unfil ed seats on committees
(if so noted in the Clerk’s lists) are counted in individual and overal committee totals for
consistency.
Tables 2-21 show for each of the 20 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 al ocated to the majority and minority parties, including
Independents (where present), for each committee; and
 majority-minority seat margin for each committee.

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. T hey have the right to vote in committees on which they serve,
accrue seniority, and be appointed to select and conference committees.
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Table 1. Comparison of Majority Party Strength in House Chamber and Total
Committee Seats: 98th-117th Congresses (1983-2023)
% Difference of
Majority Between
House Chamber
Majority
Majority % Total
and Total
% of House
Committee
Committees
Congress
Majority Party
Chamber
Seats
Seats
117th
Democratic
50.3%
55.2%
4.8%
116th
Democratic
54.0%
57.1%
3.1%
115th
Republican
55.4%
57.5%
2.1%
114th
Republican
56.8%
58.3%
1.5%
113th
Republican
53.8%
56.0%
2.2%
112th
Republican
55.6%
57.5%
1.9%
111th
Democratic
58.9%
60.4%
1.3%
110th
Democratic
53.6%
55.5%
1.9%
109th
Republican
53.3%
55.5%
2.2%
108th
Republican
52.6%
54.6%
2.0%
107th
Republican
50.8%
54.6%
3.8%
106th
Republican
51.3%
54.9%
3.6%
105th
Republican
52.0%
55.4%
3.4%
104th
Republican
52.9%
55.3%
2.4%
103rd
Democratic
59.3%
61.2%
1.9%
102nd
Democratic
61.4%
62.1%
0.7%
101st
Democratic
59.8%
61.2%
1.4%
100th
Democratic
59.3%
61.0%
1.7%
99th
Democratic
58.2%
60.4%
2.2%
98th
Democratic
61.8%
64.2%
2.4%
Source: Data presented in this table are taken from Table 2 through Table 21; sources are cited for each
table. Percentages are rounded. Data for the House chamber are based on a total of 435 Members.
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Table 2. House Committee Party Ratios 117th Congress (2021-2023)
Distribution of Seats

Majority-Minority

Total
Majority (D)
Minority (R)
Seat Margin
Total House Membersa
435
219
211
8
Total Committee Seats
861
475
386
89
Committee

Agriculture
51
27
24
3
Appropriations
59
33
26
7
Armed Services
59
31
28
3
Budget
37
21
16
5
Education and Labor
53
29
24
5
Energy and Commerce
58
32
26
6
Ethics
10
5
5
0
Financial Services
54
30
24
6
Foreign Affairs
51
27
24
3
Homeland Security
35
19
16
3
House Administration
9
6
3
3
Judiciary
44
25
19
6
Natural Resources
48
26
22
4
Oversight and Reform
45
25
20
5
Rules
13
9
4
5
Science, Space, and Technology
42
23
19
4
Smal Business
27
15
12
3
Transportation and Infrastructure
69
37
32
5
Veterans’ Affairs
31
17
14
3
Ways and Means
43
25
18
7
Permanent Select on Intel igence
23
13
10
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 Seventeeth Congress, Prepared under the direction of Cheryl L. Johnson,
Clerk of the House of Representatives, April 1, 2021, (Washington: GPO, 2021).
a. At the time this List of Standing Committees was published, there were five House seat vacancies, as reported
by the Clerk of the House; the total number of seats remained 435, but the sum of majority and minority
party seats is 430 to reflect these vacancies.
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Table 3. House Committee Party Ratios 116th Congress (2019-2021)
Distribution of Seats

Majority-Minority

Total
Majority (D)
Minority (R)
Seat Margin
Total House Members
435
235
198
37
Total Committee Seats
818
467
351
116
Committee

Agriculture
47
26
21
5
Appropriations
53
30
23
7
Armed Services
57
31
26
5
Budget
36
22
14
8
Education and Labor
50
28
22
6
Energy and Commerce
55
31
24
7
Ethics
10
5
5
0
Financial Services
60
34
26
8
Foreign Affairs
47
26
21
5
Homeland Security
31
18
13
5
House Administration
9
6
3
3
Judiciary
41
24
17
7
Natural Resources
45
26
19
7
Oversight and Reform
42
24
18
6
Rules
13
9
4
5
Science, Space, and Technology
39
22
17
5
Smal Business
24
14
10
4
Transportation and Infrastructure
67
37
30
7
Veterans’ Affairs
28
16
12
4
Ways and Means
42
25
17
8
Permanent Select on Intel igence
22
13
9
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 with an Alphabetical List of the Members and their
Committee Assignments, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Prepared under the direction of Karen L. Haas, Clerk of
the House of Representatives, February 15, 2019 (Washington: GPO, 2019).
a. At the time this List of Standing Committees was published, there were two House seat vacancies, as
reported by the Clerk of the House; the total number of seats remained 435, but the sum of majority and
minority party seats is 433 to reflect these vacancies.
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Table 4. House Committee Party Ratios 115th Congress (2017-2019)
Distribution of Seats

Majority-Minority

Total
Majority (R)
Minority (D)
Seat Margin
Total House Members
435
241
194
47
Total Committee Seats
796
458
338
120
Committee

Agriculture
46
26
20
6
Appropriations
52
30
22
8
Armed Services
62
34
28
6
Budget
36
22
14
8
Education and the Workforce
40
23
17
6
Energy and Commerce
55
31
24
7
Ethics
10
5
5
0
Financial Services
60
34
26
8
Foreign Affairs
47
26
21
5
Homeland Security
30
18
12
6
House Administration
9
6
3
3
Judiciary
41
24
17
7
Natural Resources
43
25
18
7
Oversight and Government Reform
42
24
18
6
Rules
13
9
4
5
Science, Space, and Technology
39
22
17
5
Smal Business
24
14
10
4
Transportation and Infrastructure
61
34
27
7
Veterans’ Affairs
24
14
10
4
Ways and Means
40
24
16
8
Permanent Select on Intel igence
22
13
9
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 with an Alphabetical List of the Members and their
Committee Assignments, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, Prepared under the direction of Karen L. Haas, Clerk of
the House of Representatives, February 16, 2017 (Washington: GPO, 2017).
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Table 5. House Committee Party Ratios 114th Congress (2015-2017)
Distribution of Seats

Majority-Minority

Total
Majority (R)
Minority (D)
Seat Margin
Total House Members
435
247
188
59
Total Committee Seats
787
459
328
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
Smal Business
25
14
11
3
Transportation and Infrastructure
59
34
25
9
Veterans’ Affairs
24
14
10
4
Ways and Means
39
24
15
9
Permanent Select on Intel igence
22
13
9
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 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, April 16, 2015 (Washington: GPO, 2015).
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Table 6. House Committee Party Ratios 113th Congress (2013-2015)
Distribution of Seats

Majority-Minority

Total
Majority (R)
Minority (D)
Seat Margin
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
Smal 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 Intel igence
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).
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Table 7. House Committee Party Ratios 112th Congress (2011-2013)
Distribution of Seats

Majority-Minority

Total
Majority (R)
Minority (D)
Seat Margin
Total House Members
435
242
193
49
Total Committee Seats
793
456
337
119
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
Smal 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 Intel igence
20
12
8
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 Twelfth Congress, Prepared under
the direction of Karen L. Haas, Clerk of the House of Representatives, February 28, 2011 (Washington: GPO,
2011).
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Table 8. House Committee Party Ratios 111th Congress (2009-2011)
Distribution of Seats

Majority-Minority

Total
Majority (D) Minority (R)
Indp.
Seat Margin
Total House Membersa
435
256
178

78
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
Smal 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 Intel igence
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. Mil er, 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, 111th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.
a. The 2009-2010 Congressional Directory notes that there was a vacancy for one Representative’s seat at the
start of the 111th Congress; the total number of seats remained 435, but the sum of majority and minority
party seats is 434 to reflect this vacancy. One Delegate was an independent and is counted in the
committee seat distribution but not the total count of House Members.
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Table 9. House Committee Party Ratios 110th Congress (2007-2009)
Distribution of Seats

Majority-Minority

Total
Majority (D)
Minority (R)
Seat Margin
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
Smal 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 Intel igence
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. Mil er, 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,
111th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.

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Table 10. House Committee Party Ratios 109th Congress (2005-2007)
Distribution of Seats

Majority-Minority
Total
Majority (R) Minority (D)
Indp.
Seat Margin
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
Smal 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 Intel igence
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, 111th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.
Note: The Committee on Homeland Security was added as a permanent standing committee in organizin g the
109th Congress. See H.Res. 5, agreed to in the House on January 4, 2005.

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Table 11. House Committee Party Ratios 108th Congress (2003-2005)
Distribution of Seats

Majority
Majority-Minority
Total
(R)
Minority (D)
Indp.
Seat Margin
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
Smal 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 Intel igence
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 108th Congress. Data for total House Member numbers are from S.Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010
Official Congressional Directory, 111th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.

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House Committee Party Ratios: 98th-117th Congresses

Table 12. House Committee Party Ratios 107th Congress (2001-2003)
Distribution of Seats

Majority-Minority
Total
Majority (R)
Minority (D)
Indp.
Seat Margin
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
Smal 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 Intel igence
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 107th Congress. Data for total House
Member numbers are from S.Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010 Official Congressional Directory, 111th Congress (Washington:
GPO, 2009), p. 563.

Congressional Research Service

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House Committee Party Ratios: 98th-117th Congresses

Table 13. House Committee Party Ratios 106th Congress (1999-2001)
Distribution of Seats

Majority-Minority
Total
Majority (R)
Minority (D)
Indp.
Seat Margin
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
Smal 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 Intel igence
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, 111th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.

Congressional Research Service

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House Committee Party Ratios: 98th-117th Congresses

Table 14. House Committee Party Ratios 105th Congress (1997-1999)
Distribution of Seats

Majority-Minority
Total
Majority (R)
Minority (D)
Indp.
Seat Margin
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
Smal 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 Intel igence
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, August 4, 1997 (Washington: GPO, 1997).
Data for total House Member numbers are from S.Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010 Official Congressional Directory, 111th
Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.

Congressional Research Service

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House Committee Party Ratios: 98th-117th Congresses

Table 15. House Committee Party Ratios 104th Congress (1995-1997)
Distribution of Seats

Majority-Minority
Total
Majority (R)
Minority (D)
Indp.
Seat Margin
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
Smal 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 Intel igence
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,
111th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.
Note: In adopting the rules for the 104th 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 on January 4, 1995.
Congressional Research Service

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House Committee Party Ratios: 98th-117th Congresses

Table 16. House Committee Party Ratios 103rd Congress (1993-1995)
Distribution of Seats

Majority
Majority-Minority
Total
(D)
Minority (R)
Indp.
Seat Margin
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
Smal 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 Intel igence
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, February 25, 1993 (Washington:
GPO, 1993). Data for total House Member numbers are from S.Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010 Official Congressional
Directory, 111th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.
Congressional Research Service

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House Committee Party Ratios: 98th-117th Congresses

Table 17. House Committee Party Ratios 102nd Congress (1991-1993)
Distribution of Seats

Majority-Minority
Total
Majority (D)
Minority (R)
Indp.
Seat Margin
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
Smal 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 Intel igence
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, 111th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.
Congressional Research Service

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House Committee Party Ratios: 98th-117th Congresses

Table 18. House Committee Party Ratios 101st Congress (1989-1991)
Distribution of Seats

Majority-Minority
Total
Majority (D)
Minority (R)
Seat Margin
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
Smal 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 Intel igence
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, January 23, 1989 (Washington: GPO,
1989). Data for total House Member numbers are from S.Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010 Official Congressional Directory,
111th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.
Congressional Research Service

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House Committee Party Ratios: 98th-117th Congresses

Table 19. House Committee Party Ratios 100th Congress (1987-1989)
Distribution of Seats

Majority-Minority
Total
Majority (D)
Minority (R)
Seat Margin
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
Smal 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 Intel igence
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 February 19, 1987 (Washington:
GPO, 1987). Data for total House Member numbers are from S.Pub. 111-14, 2009-2010 Official Congressional
Directory, 111th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.
Congressional Research Service

21

House Committee Party Ratios: 98th-117th Congresses

Table 20. House Committee Party Ratios 99th Congress (1985-1987)
Distribution of Seats

Majority-Minority
Total
Majority (D)
Minority (R)
Seat Margin
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
Smal 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 Intel igence
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,
111th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.
Congressional Research Service

22

House Committee Party Ratios: 98th-117th Congresses

Table 21. House Committee Party Ratios 98th Congress (1983-1985)
Distribution of Seats

Majority-Minority
Total
Majority (D)
Minority (R)
Seat Margin
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
Smal 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 Intel igence
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, 111th Congress (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 563.
Congressional Research Service

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House Committee Party Ratios: 98th-117th Congresses

Author Information

Sarah J. Eckman

Analyst in American National Government

Acknowledgments
Lorraine Tong and Matthew Glassman authored previous versions of this report, with assistance from
Julius C. Jefferson Jr. William Egar also coauthored a previous version of this report.

Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan
shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and
under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should n ot be relied upon for purposes other
than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in
connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not
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Congressional Research Service
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