Party leaders of the United States Senate
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Senate Majority and Minority Leaders (also called Senate Floor Leaders) are two United States Senators who are elected by the party conferences that hold the majority and the minority respectively. These leaders serve as the chief Senate spokesmen for their parties and manage and schedule the legislative and executive business of the Senate. By custom, the Presiding Officer gives the Majority Leader priority in obtaining recognition to speak on the floor of the Senate. The Majority Leader position most resembles that of a prime minister, but only in legislative capacities.
The Majority leader customarily serves as the chief representative and "face" of his or her party in Senate, and sometimes even in all of Congress if the House of Representatives and thus office of Speaker of the House is controlled by the opposition party.
Many state senates are organized in the same fashion as the United States Senate.
Contents |
[edit] Current floor leaders
The current floor leaders are Republican Bill Frist of Tennessee (Majority) and Democrat Harry Reid of Nevada (Minority). The Floor leaders of the 110th Congress will be Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) (Majority) and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) (Minority).
[edit] History
The position is not designated in the U.S. Constitution. It evolved into existence over time. It wasn't until the 1920s when the two parties formally began to call their leaders Majority and Minority Leader. The Democrats began this practice starting in 1920 while they were in the minority. In 1925 the majority (of the time) Republicans also adopted this language when Charles Curtis became the first Majority Leader.
The Constitution designates the Vice President of the United States as President of the Senate. The Constitution also calls for a President Pro Tempore to serve as the leader of the body when the President of the Senate (the Vice President) is absent. All of these roles still exist today, however, for practical purposes it is now the Majority Leader who runs the Senate.
In recent years it has become more common for the leader of the majority party to be referred to as the "Majority Leader" and the leader of the minority party to be referred to as the "Leader" of his party in order to reduce the (correct) implication that "Minority" connotes of lesser power. Senator Bob Dole, in particular, preferred to be referred to as "Senate Republican Leader" while serving as Minority Leader.
In January 2003 Republican Bill Frist was elected Senate Majority Leader. He succeeded Trent Lott, who resigned his leadership position in December 2002 due to controversial remarks he made claiming the United States would be a better place if Strom Thurmond, who campaigned on a platform of racial segregation, were elected President.
[edit] 2006 elections and the 110th Congress
In the 2006 midterm elections, Democrats regained majority control of the Senate. Therefore, in the 110th Congress, beginning on January 3, 2007, there will be new party leaders.
[edit] Republicans
Frist announced his retirement before the 2006 midterm elections, leaving the position of Republican Leader open. When the Republicans lose majority control of the Senate in 2007, the Republican Minority Leader will be Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
[edit] Democrats
The current Democratic Minority Leader Harry Reid will become Majority Leader in the 110th Congress. Reid's predecessor was Tom Daschle, who lost his Senate seat in the 2004 elections — making him the first floor leader to lose reelection in more than half a century.
[edit] List of Senate floor leaders
The Democratic Party first selected a leader in 1920. The Republican Party first formally designated a leader in 1925.
(Names in Bold indicate Majority Leaders)
- ^ Remained in control despite a Republican majority. There was no reorganization as Senate was out of session. Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present, via Senate.gov
[edit] See also
[edit] External link
- Majority and Minority Leaders and Party Whips, via Senate.gov
| United States Senate Majority Leaders |  |
|---|---|
| Curtis • Watson • Robinson • Barkley • White • Lucas • McFarland • Taft • Knowland • Johnson • Mansfield • Byrd • Baker • Dole • Byrd • Mitchell • Dole • Lott • Daschle • Lott • Daschle • Frist • Reid |
| United States Senate Minority Leaders | |
|---|---|
| Underwood • Robinson • McNary • Austin • McNary • White • Barkley • Wherry • Bridges • Johnson • Knowland • Dirksen • Scott • Baker • Byrd • Dole • Daschle • Lott • Daschle • Lott • Frist • Daschle • Reid • McConnell |
