111th United States Congress
111th United States Congress | |
---|---|
110th ← → 112th | |
January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011 | |
Members | 100 senators 435 representatives 6 non-voting delegates |
Senate majority | Democratic Party |
Senate President | Dick Cheney (R), Until Jan. 20, 2009 Joe Biden (D), Jan. 20, 2009 – Present |
House majority | Democratic Party |
House Speaker | Nancy Pelosi (D) |
The One Hundred Eleventh United States Congress is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It began during the last few weeks of the George W. Bush administration, with the remainder spanning the first two years of the Barack Obama administration. The Congress will last from January 3, 2009, until January 3, 2011, and it began its first session on January 6, 2009. The apportionment of seats in this House is based on the 2000 U.S. Census. In the November 4, 2008 elections, the Democratic Party increased its majorities in both chambers. A new delegate seat was created for the Northern Mariana Islands.[2]
Major events
- January 2009 — Two Senate seats were left open:
- An appointment dispute over the Illinois seat vacated by President Barack Obama arose following Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's alleged solicitation of bribes in exchange for an appointment to the Senate. Former Attorney General and Comptroller Roland Burris (D) was appointed to the seat on December 31, 2008, and was sworn in on January 15, 2009.
- An election dispute over the Minnesota seat previously held by incumbent Norm Coleman (R), between Coleman and challenger Al Franken (D), remains unresolved.
- January 8, 2009 — Joint session counted the Electoral College votes of the 2008 presidential election.[1]
- January 20, 2009 — Inauguration of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
- November 2, 2010 — 2010 general elections scheduled.
Major legislation
Enacted
- January 29, 2009: Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, Pub. L. 111–2 (text) (PDF), 123 Stat. 5
- February 4, 2009: Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, Pub. L. 111–3 (text) (PDF), 123 Stat. 8
- February 11, 2009: DTV Delay Act, Pub. L. 111–4 (text) (PDF), 123 Stat. 112
- February 17, 2009: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Pub. L. 111–5 (text) (PDF), H.R. 1
- March 11, 2009: Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, Pub. L. 111–8 (text) (PDF), H.R. 1105
Pending or failed
- (in alphabetical order)
- District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act
- Employee Free Choice Act
- GIVE Act
- Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009
- Omnibus Public Land Management Act
- Presidential Records Act Amendments
- See also: Active Legislation, 111th Congress, via senate.gov
Vetoed
- None
Major resolutions
- TBD
Select committees
Hearings
- Throughout January to March 2009, the Senate is holding hearings on the nominations for Barack Obama's cabinet.
Party summary
- Resignations and new members are discussed in the "Changes in membership" section, below.
Senate
Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic | | Template:American politics/party colours/Independent | | Template:American politics/party colours/Republican | | ||||
Democratic | Independent | Republican | Vacant | |||
End of previous Congress | 48 | 2 | 49 | 99 | 1 | |
Begin | 55 | 2 | 41 | 98 | 2 | |
January 15, 2009 | 56 | 99 | 1 | |||
January 20, 2009 | 55 | 98 | 2 | |||
January 26, 2009 | 56 | 99 | 1 | |||
Latest voting share | 58.5% | 41.4% |
Note: One seat is being disputed and is listed as vacant.[3] The two independent senators both caucus with the Democrats.
House of Representatives
Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic | | Template:American politics/party colours/Independent | | Template:American politics/party colours/Republican | | |||
Democratic | Independent | Republican | Vacant | ||
End of previous Congress | 235 | 0 | 198 | 433 | 2 |
Begin | 256 | 0 | 178 | 434 | 1 |
January 26, 2009 | 255 | 433 | 2 | ||
February 24, 2009 | 254 | 432 | 3 | ||
Latest voting share | 58.8% | 0.0% | 41.2% | ||
Non-voting members | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
Leadership
Contents: Senate: | Majority (Democratic) leadership • Minority (Republican) leadership |
House of Representatives: | Majority (Democratic) leadership • Minority (Republican) leadership |
Senate
- President:
- Dick Cheney (R), Until January 20, 2009
- Joe Biden (D), January 21, 2009 - Present
- President pro tempore: Robert Byrd (D)
Majority (Democratic) leadership
- Majority Leader and Democratic Conference Chairman:[4] Harry Reid
- Assistant Majority Leader (Majority Whip): Richard Durbin
- Democratic Conference Vice Chairman: Charles Schumer
- Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman: Bob Menendez
- Democratic Conference Secretary: Patty Murray
- Democratic Policy Committee Chairman: Byron Dorgan
- Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee Chair: Debbie Stabenow
- Democratic Committee Outreach Chair: Jeff Bingaman
- Democratic Rural Outreach Chair: Blanche Lincoln
- Chief Deputy Whip: Barbara Boxer
- Deputy Whips: Tom Carper, Bill Nelson, and Russ Feingold
Minority (Republican) leadership
- Minority Leader: Mitch McConnell
- Assistant Minority Leader (Minority Whip): Jon Kyl
- Counselor to the Minority Leader: TBD
- Republican Conference Chairman: Lamar Alexander
- Republican Policy Committee Chairman: John Ensign
- Republican Conference Vice Chair: John Thune
- National Republican Senatorial Committeee Chair: John Cornyn
House of Representatives
- Speaker: Nancy Pelosi (D)
- Assistant to the Speaker: Chris Van Hollen (D)
Majority (Democratic) leadership
- Majority Leader: Steny Hoyer
- Majority Whip: Jim Clyburn
- Senior Chief Deputy Majority Whip: TBD
- Chief Deputy Majority Whips: TBD
- Democratic Caucus Chairman: John Larson
- Democratic Caucus Vice-Chairman: Xavier Becerra
- Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman: Chris Van Hollen
- Democratic Steering/Policy Committee Co-Chairs: George Miller and Rosa DeLauro
- Organization, Study, and Review Chairman: Michael Capuano
Minority (Republican) leadership
- Minority Leader: John Boehner
- Minority Whip: Eric Cantor
- Chief Deputy Whip: Kevin McCarthy
- Republican Conference Chair: Mike Pence
- Republican Policy Committee Chairman: Thaddeus McCotter
- Republican Conference Vice-Chair: Cathy McMorris-Rodgers
- Republican Conference Secretary: John Carter
- Republican Campaign Committee Chairman: Pete Sessions
Members
Senate
House of Representatives
, for maps of congressional districts.
Changes in membership
Senate
Four changes in membership are associated with the 2008 presidential election and appointments to the incoming Obama administration. One seat is disputed.
State (class) |
Vacator | Reason for vacancy | Successor | Date of successor's taking seat |
---|---|---|---|---|
Illinois (class 3) |
Vacant | Barack Obama resigned near the end of the previous Congress, after being elected President of the United States.[6] Due to a credentials challenge, his successor—appointed on December 31, 2008, during the term of the 110th U.S. Congress—was not sworn in to fill his seat until 12 days after the initiation of the 111th U.S. Congress.[7] | Roland Burris [8] (D) | January 15, 2009[7] |
Minnesota (class 2) |
Election disputed | Neither the incumbent, Norm Coleman (R), nor the apparent winner, Al Franken (D), has yet been seated due to an election dispute. | TBD | TBD |
Delaware (class 2) |
Joe Biden (D) | Resigned January 15, 2009 in expectation of becoming Vice President.[9] His appointed successor will fill the seat until a special election in November 2010. | Ted Kaufman[10] (D) | January 16, 2009[11] |
Colorado (class 3) |
Ken Salazar (D) | Resigned January 20, 2009 to become Secretary of the Interior. His appointed successor will fill the seat until a special election in November 2010. | Michael Bennet[12] (D) | January 22, 2009[13] |
New York (class 1) |
Hillary Clinton (D) | Resigned January 21, 2009 to become Secretary of State. Her appointed successor will fill the seat until a special election in November 2010. | Kirsten Gillibrand (D)[14] | January 27, 2009 |
House of Representatives
All four vacancies are associated with appointments to the incoming Obama administration. House vacancies are filled by special elections, called by the state governors.
District | Vacator | Reason for Vacancy | Successor | Date of successor's taking office |
---|---|---|---|---|
Illinois 5th | Vacant | Rahm Emanuel (D) resigned near the end of the previous Congress after being named White House Chief of Staff. There will be a special election on April 7, 2009. | TBD | TBD |
New York 20th | Kirsten Gillibrand (D) | Resigned January 26, 2009, to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate. There will be a special election on March 31, 2009. | TBD | TBD |
California 32nd | Hilda Solis (D) | Resigned February 24, 2009, to become Secretary of Labor. There will be a special election on July 14, 2009. | TBD | TBD |
California 10th | Ellen Tauscher (D) | Expected to resign upon Senate confirmation as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs. | TBD | TBD |
Employees
Senate
- Chaplain: Barry C. Black
- Curator: TBD
- Historian: TBD
- Parliamentarian: Alan Frumin
- Secretary: Nancy Erickson
- Sergeant at Arms: Terrance W. Gainer
- Secretary for the Majority: Lula J. Davis
- Secretary for the Minority: David J. Schiappa
House of Representatives
- Chaplain: Daniel P. Coughlin
- Chief Administrative Officer: Daniel P. Beard
- Clerk: Lorraine Miller
- Historian: TBD
- Parliamentarian: John V. Sullivan
- Reading Clerks: Jaime Zapata, Susan Cole (Reading Clerk)
- Sergeant at Arms: Wilson “Bill” Livingood
- Inspector General: TBD
- See also: Rules of the House: "Other officers and officials"
See also
Elections
Membership lists
- List of freshman class members of the 111th United States Congress
- List of current United States Senators by age and generation
References
- ^ a b See Pub. L. 110–430 (text) (PDF). Section 1 sets the beginning of the first session of the 111th Congress. Section 2 sets the date for counting Electoral College votes.
- ^ Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, Pub. L. 110–229 (text) (PDF)
- ^ a b Norm Coleman (R), the runner-up in the 2008 election and subsequent recount, is disputing the election of Al Franken (D) to the Senate seat from Minnesota. No senator has been seated.
- ^ The Democratic Senate Majority Leader also serves as the Chairman of the Democratic Conference.
- ^ Burris was appointed on December 31, 2008, during the 110th United States Congress. However, he was not allowed to take the oath until January 15, 2009, due to the controversy surrounding Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who appointed him.
- ^ Mason, Jeff (2009-01-27). "Obama resigns Senate seat, thanks Illinois". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-11-21.
- ^ a b Hulse, Carl (2009-01-27). "Burris Is Sworn In". New York Times: www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
- ^ "Burris v. White, [[Illinois Supreme Court]], No. 107816" (PDF). 2009-01-09. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
{{cite web}}
: URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ "Biden to Resign from Senate Thursday". MSNBC.
- ^ "Longtime Biden aide picked to fill his Senate seat". WJLA.com. November 24, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
- ^ "Illinois, Delaware Senators to Be Seated in First Round of Replacements". CQ Politics.
- ^ "Official Press Release from Governor Bill Ritter, Jr., Jan. 3, 2009, appointing Michael Bennet". Colorado.gov.
- ^ "Ken Salazar sends Senate resignation".
- ^ "Aide: Kirsten Gillibrand picked as next NY senator".
External links
- Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
- Thomas Project at the Library of Congress
- Member Information, via U.S. House of Representatives
- Statistics and Lists, via U.S. Senate
- Membership of the 111th Congress: A Profile, Congressional Research Service, December 31, 2008
- Name Pronunciation Guide to the 111th U.S. Congress from inogolo.com