Lorraine H. Tong
Analyst in American National Government
The standing rules of the Senate are silent on the subject of committee party ratios. The apportionment of committee seats results from discussions between majority and minority party leadership. Committee assignments and ratios are among the first decisions made at the beginning of a Congress. The leaders implement any ratio agreement through resolutions electing Senators to committees. In general, it has been the practice of the Senate to apportion committee seats to the majority and minority parties in a manner that corresponds closely to the party strength in the full chamber. Findings from this study indicate that the majority party ratios on committees roughly approximate the majority party strength in the Senate chamber, regardless of which party is in control. This report provides an overview of Senate standing committee sizes and ratios in 18 Congresses, covering the period of the 94th through the 111th Congresses (1975-2011). Also included are data on select committees with legislative jurisdiction. This report also discusses trends and compares party ratios in selected Congresses.
During the 18 Congresses examined, the sizes of committees have generally increased as have the number of committee assignments a Senator typically receives. Each table includes the standing committees and select committees as established and titled in each Congress. For each Congress, a table presents the party divisions in the Senate and the total number of seats (1) in the chamber, (2) in committees, (3) on each committee, (4) assigned to the majority and minority parties and to Independents and other parties (where present), and (5) majority and minority party seats on each committee. Data are also provided for the majority-minority seat margin in the chamber, on each committee, as well as the total seat margin for all standing committees and the select committee. A comparison of the Senate majority caucus size in the chamber and in committees is provided in a separate table.
The committee ratios data for the 99th through 111th Congresses are taken from the official committee lists for each Congress issued by the Secretary of the Senate; the Congressional Directory is the source for the 94th through 98th Congresses. The earliest editions of these primary documents are the sources for the data, although anomalies in some Congresses, such as delays in seating a Senator due to contested elections, necessitated using later versions of the publications. Use of other versions of these publications, and alternate sources or methodologies, may yield different results. For example, using data from other sources or time frames reflecting the number of Senators representing a particular party may change during a Congress, due to the death or resignation of a Senator, or as a consequence of a Senator changing party affiliation, and could lead to alternate findings. Party division numbers reflect party strength as indicated in the Secretary’s lists and the Congressional Directory. Different versions of the Secretary’s list and the Congressional Directory, or the use of alternate sources or methodologies, may yield different results.
Date of Report: November 23, 2010
Number of Pages: 28
Order Number: RL34752
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
Analyst in American National Government
The standing rules of the Senate are silent on the subject of committee party ratios. The apportionment of committee seats results from discussions between majority and minority party leadership. Committee assignments and ratios are among the first decisions made at the beginning of a Congress. The leaders implement any ratio agreement through resolutions electing Senators to committees. In general, it has been the practice of the Senate to apportion committee seats to the majority and minority parties in a manner that corresponds closely to the party strength in the full chamber. Findings from this study indicate that the majority party ratios on committees roughly approximate the majority party strength in the Senate chamber, regardless of which party is in control. This report provides an overview of Senate standing committee sizes and ratios in 18 Congresses, covering the period of the 94th through the 111th Congresses (1975-2011). Also included are data on select committees with legislative jurisdiction. This report also discusses trends and compares party ratios in selected Congresses.
During the 18 Congresses examined, the sizes of committees have generally increased as have the number of committee assignments a Senator typically receives. Each table includes the standing committees and select committees as established and titled in each Congress. For each Congress, a table presents the party divisions in the Senate and the total number of seats (1) in the chamber, (2) in committees, (3) on each committee, (4) assigned to the majority and minority parties and to Independents and other parties (where present), and (5) majority and minority party seats on each committee. Data are also provided for the majority-minority seat margin in the chamber, on each committee, as well as the total seat margin for all standing committees and the select committee. A comparison of the Senate majority caucus size in the chamber and in committees is provided in a separate table.
The committee ratios data for the 99th through 111th Congresses are taken from the official committee lists for each Congress issued by the Secretary of the Senate; the Congressional Directory is the source for the 94th through 98th Congresses. The earliest editions of these primary documents are the sources for the data, although anomalies in some Congresses, such as delays in seating a Senator due to contested elections, necessitated using later versions of the publications. Use of other versions of these publications, and alternate sources or methodologies, may yield different results. For example, using data from other sources or time frames reflecting the number of Senators representing a particular party may change during a Congress, due to the death or resignation of a Senator, or as a consequence of a Senator changing party affiliation, and could lead to alternate findings. Party division numbers reflect party strength as indicated in the Secretary’s lists and the Congressional Directory. Different versions of the Secretary’s list and the Congressional Directory, or the use of alternate sources or methodologies, may yield different results.
Date of Report: November 23, 2010
Number of Pages: 28
Order Number: RL34752
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
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