Current party leaders of the United States Senate
This article needs to be updated.(April 2015) |
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The party leadership of the United States Senate refers to the officials elected by the Senate Democratic Caucus and the Senate Republican Conference to manage the affairs of each party in the See. Each party is led by a floor leader who directs the legislative agenda of his caucus in the Senate, and who is augmented by an Assistant Leader or Whip, and several other officials who work together to manage the floor schedule of legislation, enforce party discipline; oversee efforts to elect new Senators, and maintain party unity.[citation needed]
The titular, non-partisan leaders of the Senate itself are the Vice President of the United States, who serves as President of the Senate, and the President pro tempore, the seniormost member of the majority, who theoretically presides in the absence of the Vice President.[citation needed]
Unlike committee chairmanships, leadership positions are not traditionally conferred on the basis of seniority, but are elected in closed-door caucuses.[citation needed]
Republican leadership
Since January 3, 2015, the Republican Party has constituted a majority in the United States Senate.
Position | Name | State | Notes[1][2] |
---|---|---|---|
Floor Leader | Mitch McConnell | Kentucky | The Senate Majority Leader, who serves as leader of the Senate Republican Conference and manages the legislative business of the Senate |
Assistant Floor Leader | John Cornyn | Texas | The Senate Majority Whip, who manages votes and communicates with individual senators and ensures passage of bills relevant to the agenda and policy goals of the Senate Republican Conference |
Republican Conference Chair | John Thune | South Dakota | |
Republican Policy Committee Chairman | John Barrasso | Wyoming | |
Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee | Roger Wicker | Mississippi | Responsible for overseeing efforts to elect Republicans to the Senate |
Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference | Roy Blunt | Missouri | |
President pro tempore | Orrin Hatch | Utah | The longest-serving Republican senator, not formally part of Republican leadership |
Democratic leadership in the United States Senate
Since January 3, 2015, the Democratic Party has constituted a minority in the United States Senate.
Position | Name | State | Notes[3][2] |
---|---|---|---|
Floor Leader | Harry Reid | Nevada | Senate Minority Leader |
Assistant Floor Leader | Dick Durbin | Illinois | Senate Minority Whip |
Vice Chairman of the Democratic Caucus | Chuck Schumer | New York | Position created for Schumer after successful tenure as DSCC chairman |
Senate Democratic Conference Secretary | Patty Murray | Washington | Responsible for managing the policy agenda for the Senate Democratic Conference |
Chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee | Michael Bennet | Colorado | Responsible for overseeing efforts to elect Democrats to the Senate |
Vice Chairwoman of the Democratic Policy Committee | Debbie Stabenow | Michigan | Responsible for Senate Democrats' messaging and political strategy efforts |
Chairman of the Steering and Outreach Committee | Amy Klobuchar | Minnesota | Responsible for fostering relations between Senate Democrats and community leaders and interest groups |
Chairman of Committee Outreach | TBA | Responsible for relations between Senate committees and the Senate Democratic Conference | |
Chief Deputy Whip | Barbara Boxer | California | Assists the Whip in managing Democratic votes and communicating leadership strategy with Senate Democrats |
President of the Senate | Joe Biden | (Delaware) | Not a Senator; see Vice President of the United States |
References
- ^ Republican.Senate.Gov. Republican.Senate.Gov (2012-09-04). Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
- ^ a b U.S. Senate: Senators Home > Senate Organization. Senate.gov (2013-05-31). Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
- ^ Leadership | Senate Democrats. Democrats.senate.gov (2013-01-18). Retrieved on 2013-08-16.