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The seniority in the United States Senate is based upon a series of ranked factors; only resorting to the next factor when tied.[1]
Senior Senator and Junior Senator are terms commonly used in the media to describe United States Senators. Each state sends two senators to serve in the Senate; the longer (continuously) serving of the two is by convention referred to as the senior senator, and the other is referred to as the junior senator. If both are elected at the same time (e.g., one in a regular election and the other simultaneously to fill the seat of a senator who resigned), the one who is sworn in first is senior.
There is no mandated difference in rights or power, although Senate rules give more power to senators with more seniority. Generally, senior senators will have more power, though being a member of the majority party is more advantageous than being senior. In addition, by custom the senior senators from the president's party control federal patronage appointments in their states. Thus being the junior senator is disadvantageous if the senior one is from the same party.
Some of the perquisites of seniority offered by the U.S. Senate:
- Senators are given preferential treatment for committee assignments based on seniority. Although the committee chairmanship is an elected position, it is traditionally given to the most senior senator of the majority party serving on the committee. Ranking member (called Vice-Chairman in some select committees) of a committee is the most senior member of the minority party thereon.
- Greater seniority enables a senator to choose a desk closer to the front of the Senate Chamber.
Traditionally, seniority brings with it greater clout. As a result of this, it is fairly difficult for the more junior members of both houses of Congress to have a significant impact on policy. Notable exceptions to this include Lyndon B. Johnson (elected in 1948), who was junior to Thomas T. Connally (elected in 1928); Joseph McCarthy (elected to Senate in 1946), who was junior to Alexander Wiley (elected to Senate in 1938); and Trent Lott (elected 1988), who was junior to Thad Cochran (elected 1978).
Current seniority list[edit]
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The president pro tempore of the Senate is traditionally the most senior member of the majority party. The current president pro tempore, Robert Byrd, is also the dean of the United States Senate.
Only relevant factors are listed. For instance, Robert Byrd's time with the House of Representatives no longer has any bearing on his seniority, so it is not listed.
- Amount of consecutive time serving as U.S. senator
- Previous U.S. senator (non-consecutive)
- Length of time serving as a senator in previous non-consecutive terms
- Previous U.S. representative
- Length of time serving as a U.S. representative
- Previous president
- Previous vice president
- Previous cabinet member
- Previous state governor
- Population of state based on the most recent census when the senator took office
- Alphabetical by last name (in the rare instance that two senators came from the same state on the same day and have identical credentials)
For senators who have a cited, verified census the state population ranking is listed.[2][3][4][5]
| Rank | Name | Seniority date | Other factors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert Byrd (D-WV) | January 31959 | |
| 2 | Ted Kennedy (D-MA) | November 71962 | |
| 3 | Daniel Inouye (D-HI) | January 31963 | |
| 4 | Ted Stevens (R-AK) | December 241968 | |
| 5 | Pete Domenici[6] (R-NM) | January 31973 | New Mexico 37th in population (1970) |
| 6 | Joe Biden (D-DE) | Delaware 46th in population (1970) | |
| 7 | Patrick Leahy (D-VT) | January 31975 | |
| 8 | Richard Lugar (R-IN) | January 41977 | Indiana 11th in population (1970) |
| 9 | Orrin Hatch (R-UT) | Utah 36th in population (1970) | |
| 10 | Max Baucus (D-MT) | December 151978 | |
| 11 | Thad Cochran (R-MS) | December 271978 | |
| 12 | John Warner[6] (R-VA) | January 21979 | |
| 13 | Carl Levin (D-MI) | January 31979 | |
| 14 | Chris Dodd (D-CT) | January 31981 | Former U.S. representative (6 years); Connecticut 24th in population (1970) |
| 15 | Chuck Grassley (R-IA) | Former U.S. representative (6 years); Iowa 25th in population (1970) | |
| 16 | Arlen Specter (R-PA) | ||
| 17 | Jeff Bingaman[7] (D-NM) | January 31983 | |
| 18 | John Kerry (D-MA) | January 21985 | |
| 19 | Tom Harkin (D-IA) | January 31985 | Former U.S. representative |
| 20 | Mitch McConnell (R-KY) | ||
| 21 | Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) | January 151985 | |
| 22 | Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) | January 61987 | Former U.S. representative (10 years) |
| 23 | Richard Shelby (R-AL) | Former U.S. representative (8 years) | |
| 24 | John McCain (R-AZ) | Former U.S. representative (4 years); Arizona 29th in population (1980) | |
| 25 | Harry Reid (D-NV) | Former U.S. representative (4 years); Nevada 43rd in population (1980) | |
| 26 | Kit Bond (R-MO) | Former governor | |
| 27 | Kent Conrad (D-ND) | ||
| 28 | Herb Kohl (D-WI) | January 31989 | Wisconsin 16th in population (1980) |
| 29 | Joe Lieberman (ID-CT)[8] | Connecticut 25th in population (1980) | |
| 30 | Daniel Akaka (D-HI) | May 161990 | |
| 31 | Larry Craig[6] (R-ID) | January 31991 | |
| 32 | Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) | November 101992 | |
| 33 | Byron Dorgan (D-ND) | December 151992 | |
| 34 | Barbara Boxer (D-CA) | January 51993 | Former U.S. representative (10 years) |
| 35 | Judd Gregg (R-NH) | Former U.S. representative (8 years) | |
| 36 | Russ Feingold (D-WI) | Wisconsin 16th in population (1990) | |
| 37 | Patty Murray (D-WA) | Washington 18th in population (1990) | |
| 38 | Bob Bennett (R-UT) | Utah 35th in population (1990) | |
| 39 | Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) | June 141993 | |
| 40 | Jim Inhofe (R-OK) | November 171994 | |
| 41 | Olympia Snowe (R-ME) | January 41995 | Former U.S. representative (16 years) |
| 42 | Jon Kyl (R-AZ) | Former U.S. representative (8 years) | |
| 43 | Ron Wyden (D-OR) | February 61996 | |
| 44 | Sam Brownback (R-KS) | November 71996 | |
| 45 | Pat Roberts (R-KS) | January 71997 | Former U.S. representative (16 years) |
| 46 | Richard Durbin (D-IL) | Former U.S. representative (14 years) | |
| 47 | Tim Johnson (D-SD) | Former U.S. representative (10 years) | |
| 48 | Wayne Allard[6] (R-CO) | Former U.S. representative (6 years); Colorado 26th in population (1990) | |
| 49 | Jack Reed (D-RI) | Former U.S. representative (6 years); Rhode Island 43rd in population (1990) | |
| 50 | Mary Landrieu (D-LA) | Louisiana 21st in population (1990) | |
| 51 | Jeff Sessions (R-AL) | Alabama 22nd in population (1990) | |
| 52 | Gordon Smith (R-OR) | Oregon 29th in population (1990) | |
| 53 | Chuck Hagel[6] (R-NE) | Nebraska 36th in population (1990) | |
| 54 | Susan Collins (R-ME) | Maine 38th in population (1990) | |
| 55 | Mike Enzi (R-WY) | Wyoming 50th in population (1990) | |
| 56 | Chuck Schumer (D-NY) | January 61999 | Former U.S. representative (18 years) |
| 57 | Jim Bunning (R-KY) | Former U.S. representative (12 years) | |
| 58 | Mike Crapo (R-ID) | Former U.S. representative (6 years) | |
| 59 | Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) | Former U.S. representative (4 years) | |
| 60 | George Voinovich (R-OH) | Former governor; Ohio 7th in population (1990) | |
| 61 | Evan Bayh (D-IN) | Former governor; Indiana 15th in population (1990) | |
| 62 | Bill Nelson (D-FL) | January 32001 | Former U.S. representative (12 years) |
| 63 | Tom Carper (D-DE) | Former U.S. representative (10 years) | |
| 64 | Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) | Former U.S. representative (4 years); Michigan 8th in population (1990) | |
| 65 | John Ensign (R-NV) | Former U.S. representative (4 years); Nevada 39th in population (1990) | |
| 66 | Maria Cantwell (D-WA) | Former U.S. representative (2 years) | |
| 67 | Ben Nelson (D-NE) | Former governor | |
| 68 | Hillary Rodham Clinton[9] (D-NY) | ||
| 69 | Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) | December 202002 | |
| 70 | Frank Lautenberg[10] (D-NJ) | January 32003 | Previous Senate service |
| 71 | Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) | Former U.S. representative (8 years); Georgia 9th in population (2000) | |
| 72 | Lindsey Graham (R-SC) | Former U.S. representative (8 years); South Carolina 24th in population (2000) | |
| 73 | John Sununu (R-NH) | Former U.S. representative (6 years) | |
| 74 | Lamar Alexander (R-TN) | Former Cabinet member; former governor | |
| 75 | Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) | Former Cabinet member | |
| 76 | John Cornyn[11] (R-TX) | Texas 2nd in population (2000) | |
| 77 | Norm Coleman[12] (R-MN) | Minnesota 21st in population (2000) | |
| 78 | Mark Pryor (D-AR) | Arkansas 32nd in population (2000) | |
| 79 | Richard Burr (R-NC) | January 32005 | Former U.S. representative (10 years) |
| 80 | Jim DeMint (R-SC) | Former U.S. representative (6 years); South Carolina 24th in population (2000) | |
| 81 | Tom Coburn (R-OK) | Former U.S. representative (6 years); Oklahoma 27th in population (2000) | |
| 82 | John Thune (R-SD) | Former U.S. representative (6 years); South Dakota 46th in population (2000) | |
| 83 | Johnny Isakson (R-GA) | Former U.S. representative (5 years, 10 months) | |
| 84 | David Vitter (R-LA) | Former U.S. representative (5 years, 7 months) | |
| 85 | Mel Martinez (R-FL) | Former Cabinet member | |
| 86 | Barack Obama (D-IL) | Illinois 5th in population (2000) | |
| 87 | Ken Salazar (D-CO) | Colorado 22nd in population (2000) | |
| 88 | Bob Menendez (D-NJ) | January 182006 | |
| 89 | Ben Cardin (D-MD) | January 32007 | Former U.S. representative (20 years) |
| 90 | Bernie Sanders (I-VT) | Former U.S. representative (16 years) | |
| 91 | Sherrod Brown (D-OH) | Former U.S. representative (14 years) | |
| 92 | Bob Casey, Jr. (D-PA) | Pennsylvania 6th in population (2000) | |
| 93 | Jim Webb[13] (D-VA) | Virginia 12th in population (2000) | |
| 94 | Bob Corker (R-TN) | Tennessee 16th in population (2000) | |
| 95 | Claire McCaskill (D-MO) | Missouri 17th in population (2000) | |
| 96 | Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) | Minnesota 21st in population (2000) | |
| 97 | Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) | Rhode Island 43rd in population (2000) | |
| 98 | Jon Tester (D-MT) | Montana 44th in population (2000) | |
| 99 | John Barrasso (R-WY) | June 25 2007 | |
| 100 | Roger Wicker (R-MS) | December 31 2007 | |
| Mark Udall (D-CO) | January 32009 | Former U.S. representative (10 Years); Colorado 22nd in population (2000) | |
| Tom Udall (D-NM) | Former U.S. representative (10 Years); New Mexico 36th in population (2000) | ||
| Mike Johanns (R-NE) | Former Cabinet member | ||
| Mark Warner (D-VA) | Former Governor; Virginia 12th in population (2000) | ||
| Jim Risch (R-ID) | Former Governor; Idaho 39th in population (2000) | ||
| Ronnie Musgrove (D-MS) | Former Governor; Mississippi 31st in population (2000) | ||
| Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) | Former Governor; New Hampshire 46th in population (2000) | ||
| Jim Martin (D-GA) | Georgie 9th in population (2000) | ||
| Kay Hagan (D-NC) | North Carolina 10th in population (2000) | ||
| Al Franken (D-MN) | Minnesota 21st in population (2000) | ||
| Bruce Lunsford (D-KY) | Kentucky 26th in population (2000) | ||
| Mark Begich (D-AK) | Alaska 47th in population (2000) |
See also[edit]
- United States Census, 2000
- United States Census, 1990
- United States Census, 1980
- United States Census, 1970
- List of current United States Representatives by seniority
Notes[edit]
- ^ "A Chronological List of United States Senators 1789-Present". Official website of the United States Senate.
- ^ 1971 U.S Census Report Contains 1970 Census results.
- ^ 1981 U.S Census Report Contains 1980 Census results.
- ^ 1991 U.S Census Report Contains 1990 Census results.
- ^ 2000 Census State Population Rankings
- ^ a b c d e Announced retirement after 2008 election (not running for re-election).
- ^ Jeff Bingaman is currently, the most-senior “Junior Senator”. New Mexico's “Senior Senator” is Pete Domenici who is 5th in seniority.
- ^ Lieberman won re-election as an independent in 2006 and caucuses with the Democratic Party. However, he has chosen to refer to himself as an "Independent Democrat." Despite the party change, Lieberman retains his seniority since there is no break in his Senate service.
- ^ In terms of ceremonial protocol, Senator Hillary Clinton comes before all US Senators as a former First Lady.
- ^ Frank Lautenberg served a previous term as U.S. Senator from New Jersey from January 1983 to January 2001, but under the rules, does not retain seniority from that prior service. Lautenberg has sought restoration of his seniority based on his prior service, but has not received it. - HillNews.com
- ^ Phil Gramm resigned early, effective November 30, 2002, so that Cornyn could take senate office on December 2, 2002, and move into Gramm's office suite in order to begin organizing his staff. Cornyn did not, however, gain seniority, owing to a 1980 Rules Committee policy that no longer gave seniority to senators who entered Congress early for the purpose of gaining advantageous office space.
- ^ Norm Coleman is currently, the most-junior Senior Senator. Minnesota's Junior Senator is Amy Klobuchar who is 96th in seniority.
- ^ Senator Webb served as Secretary of the Navy; however, that has not been a Cabinet-level position since 1947 and therefore would not affect his Seniority.