The Senate
The Capitol, Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3121
http://www.senate.gov
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| CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED OFFICERS | |
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| President of the Senate / Vice President of the United States | Michael R. Pence |
| President pro tempore | Orrin G. Hatch |
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| POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS | |
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| Majority Leader | A. Mitchell McConnell |
| Minority Leader | Charles E. Schumer |
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| OFFICERS / OFFICIALS | |
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| Chaplain | Barry C. Black |
| Parliamentarian | Elizabeth C. MacDonough |
| Secretary for the Majority | Laura C. Dove |
| Secretary for the Minority | Gary B. Myrick |
| Secretary of the Senate | Julie E. Adams |
| Sergeant at Arms | Frank J. Larkin |
Organizational Chart Overview
The Senate comprises 100 Members, 2 from each State. Senators are elected to serve for a term of 6 years. There are three classes of Senators, and a new class is elected every 2 years. Senators were originally chosen by the State legislatures. The 17th amendment, which became part of the Constitution in 1913, made their election a function of the people.
A Senator must be a resident of the State that he or she represents. A Senator also must be at least 30 years of age and have been a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years.
Officers
The Vice President of the United States is the Presiding Officer of the Senate. In the Vice President's absence, the duties are taken over by a President pro tempore, elected by that body, or someone designated by the President pro tempore.
The positions of Senate Majority and Minority Leader have been in existence only since the early years of the 20th century. Leaders are elected at the beginning of each new Congress by a majority vote of the Senators in their political party. In cooperation with their party organizations, Leaders are responsible for the design and achievement of a legislative program. This involves managing the flow of legislation, expediting noncontroversial measures, and keeping Members informed regarding proposed action on pending business. Each Leader serves as an ex officio member of his party's policymaking and organizational bodies and is aided by an assistant floor leader (whip) and a party secretary.
The Secretary of the Senate, elected by vote of the Senate, performs the duties of the Presiding Officer of the Senate in the absence of the Vice President and pending the election of a President pro tempore. The Secretary is the custodian of the seal of the Senate, draws requisitions on the Secretary of the Treasury for moneys appropriated for the compensation of Senators, officers, and employees, and for the contingent expenses of the Senate, and is empowered to administer oaths to any officer of the Senate and to any witness produced before it. The Secretary's executive duties include certification of extracts from the Journal of the Senate; the attestation of bills and joint, concurrent, and Senate resolutions; in impeachment trials, issuance, under the authority of the Presiding Officer, of all orders, mandates, writs, and precepts authorized by the Senate; and certification to the President of the United States of the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification of treaties and the names of persons confirmed or rejected upon the nomination of the President.
The Sergeant at Arms, elected by vote of the Senate, serves as the executive, chief law enforcement, and protocol officer and is the principal administrative manager for most support services in the Senate. As executive officer, the Sergeant at Arms has custody of the Senate gavel; enforces Senate rules and regulations as they pertain to the Senate Chamber, the Senate wing of the Capitol, and the Senate office buildings; and subject to the Presiding Officer, maintains order on the Senate floor, Chamber, and galleries. As chief law enforcement officer of the Senate, the Sergeant at Arms is authorized to maintain security in the Capitol and all Senate buildings, as well as to protect Senators; to arrest and detain any person violating Senate rules; and to locate absentee Senators for a quorum. The Sergeant at Arms serves as a member of the Capitol Police Board and as its chairman each odd year. As protocol officer, the Sergeant at Arms escorts the President and other heads of state or official guests of the Senate who are attending official functions in the Capitol; makes arrangements for funerals of Senators who die in office; and assists in planning the inauguration of the President and organizing the swearing-in and orientation programs for newly elected Senators.
Committees
The work of preparing and considering legislation is done largely by committees of both Houses of Congress. There are 16 standing committees in the Senate. The standing committees of the Senate are shown in the list below. In addition, there are two select committees in each House and various congressional commissions and joint committees composed of Members of both Houses. Each House may also appoint special investigating committees. The membership of the standing committees of each House is chosen by a vote of the entire body; members of other committees are appointed under the provisions of the measure establishing them.
Each bill and resolution is usually referred to the appropriate committee, which may report a bill out in its original form, favorably or unfavorably, recommend amendments, report original measures, or allow the proposed legislation to die in committee without action.
http://www.senate.gov/general/common/generic/about_committees.htm | | STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE | |
| Committee | Chair | Web Site |
| Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry | C. Patrick Roberts | http://www.agriculture.senate.gov |
| Appropriations | W. Thad Cochran | http://www.appropriations.senate.gov |
| Armed Services | John S. McCain | http://www.armed-services.senate.gov |
| Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs | Michael D. Crapo | http://www.banking.senate.gov |
| Budget | Michael B. Enzi | http://www.budget.senate.gov |
| Commerce, Science, and Transportation | John R. Thune | http://www.commerce.senate.gov |
| Energy and Natural Resources | Lisa A. Murkowski | https://www.energy.senate.gov |
| Environment and Public Works | John A. Barrasso | https://www.epw.senate.gov |
| Finance | Orrin G. Hatch | https://www.finance.senate.gov |
| Foreign Relations | Robert P. Corker, Jr. | http://www.foreign.senate.gov |
| Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions | A. Lamar Alexander, Jr. | http://www.help.senate.gov |
| Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs | Ronald H. Johnson | https://www.hsgac.senate.gov |
| Judiciary | Charles E. Grassley | https://www.judiciary.senate.gov |
| Rules and Administration | Richard C. Shelby | http://www.rules.senate.gov/public |
| Small Business and Entrepreneurship | James E. Risch | http://www.sbc.senate.gov |
| Veterans' Affairs | John H. Isakson | https://www.veterans.senate.gov |
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https://www.senate.gov/committees/committees_home.htm Special Powers
Under the Constitution, the Senate is granted certain powers not accorded to the House of Representatives. The Senate approves or disapproves certain Presidential appointments by majority vote, and treaties must be concurred in by a two-thirds vote.
List of U.S. Senators
| STATE | EXPIRATION OF TERM—PARTY AFFILIATION | CONTACT INFORMATION |
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| Alabama | | |
| Richard C. Shelby | 2023—Republican | http://www.shelby.senate.gov |
| G. Douglas Jones | 2021—Democrat | https://www.senate.gov/senators/115thCongress/Jones_Doug.htm |
| Alaska | | |
| Lisa A. Murkowski | 2023—Republican | https://www.murkowski.senate.gov |
| Daniel S. Sullivan | 2021—Republican | http://www.sullivan.senate.gov |
| Arizona | | |
| Jeffry L. Flake | 2019—Republican | http://www.flake.senate.gov |
| John S. McCain | 2023—Republican | http://www.mccain.senate.gov |
| Arkansas | | |
| John N. Boozman | 2023—Republican | https://www.boozman.senate.gov |
| Thomas B. Cotton | 2021—Republican | https://www.cotton.senate.gov |
| California | | |
| Dianne Feinstein | 2019—Democrat | http://www.feinstein.senate.gov |
| Kamala D. Harris | 2023—Democrat | https://www.harris.senate.gov |
| Colorado | | |
| Michael F. Bennet | 2023—Democrat | https://www.bennet.senate.gov |
| Cory S. Gardner | 2021—Republican | https://www.gardner.senate.gov |
| Connecticut | | |
| Richard Blumenthal | 2023—Democrat | https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov |
| Christopher S. Murphy | 2019—Democrat | https://www.murphy.senate.gov |
| Delaware | | |
| Thomas R. Carper | 2019—Democrat | https://www.carper.senate.gov |
| Christopher A. Coons | 2021—Democrat | https://www.coons.senate.gov |
| Florida | | |
| C. William Nelson | 2019—Democrat | https://www.billnelson.senate.gov |
| Marco A. Rubio | 2023—Republican | http://www.rubio.senate.gov |
| Georgia | | |
| John H. Isakson | 2023—Republican | https://www.isakson.senate.gov |
| David A. Perdue, Jr. | 2021—Republican | http://www.perdue.senate.gov |
| Hawaii | | |
| Mazie K. Hirono | 2019—Democrat | https://www.hirono.senate.gov |
| Brian E. Schatz | 2023—Democrat | http://www.schatz.senate.gov |
| Idaho | | |
| Michael D. Crapo | 2023—Republican | http://www.crapo.senate.gov |
| James E. Risch | 2021—Republican | http://www.risch.senate.gov |
| Illinois | | |
| L. Tammy Duckworth | 2023—Democrat | https://www.duckworth.senate.gov |
| Richard J. Durbin | 2021—Democrat | http://www.durbin.senate.gov |
| Indiana | | |
| Joseph S. Donnelly | 2019—Democrat | http://www.donnelly.senate.gov |
| Todd C. Young | 2023—Republican | https://www.young.senate.gov |
| Iowa | | |
| Joni K. Ernst | 2021—Republican | http://www.ernst.senate.gov |
| Charles E. Grassley | 2023—Republican | http://www.grassley.senate.gov |
| Kansas | | |
| Gerald W. Moran | 2023—Republican | http://www.moran.senate.gov |
| C. Patrick Roberts | 2021—Republican | http://www.roberts.senate.gov |
| Kentucky | | |
| A. Mitchell McConnell | 2021—Republican | http://www.mcconnell.senate.gov |
| Randal H. Paul | 2023—Republican | https://www.paul.senate.gov |
| Louisiana | | |
| William Cassidy | 2021—Republican | http://www.cassidy.senate.gov |
| John N. Kennedy | 2023—Republican | https://www.kennedy.senate.gov |
| Maine | | |
| Susan M. Collins | 2021—Republican | https://www.collins.senate.gov |
| Angus S. King, Jr. | 2019—Independent | http://www.king.senate.gov |
| Maryland | | |
| Benjamin L. Cardin | 2019—Democrat | https://www.cardin.senate.gov |
| Christopher Van Hollen, Jr. | 2023—Democrat | https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov |
| Massachusetts | | |
| Edward J. Markey | 2021—Democrat | http://www.markey.senate.gov |
| Elizabeth A. Warren | 2019—Democrat | https://www.warren.senate.gov |
| Michigan | | |
| Gary C. Peters | 2021—Democrat | https://www.peters.senate.gov |
| Deborah A. Stabenow | 2019—Democrat | http://www.stabenow.senate.gov |
| Minnesota | | |
| Tina F. Smith | 2021—Democrat | https://www.senate.gov/senators/115thCongress/Smith_Tina.htm |
| Amy J. Klobuchar | 2019—Democrat | https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov |
| Mississippi | | |
| W. Thad Cochran | 2021—Republican | http://www.cochran.senate.gov |
| Roger F. Wicker | 2019—Republican | https://www.wicker.senate.gov |
| Missouri | | |
| Roy D. Blunt | 2023—Republican | http://www.blunt.senate.gov |
| Claire McCaskill | 2019—Democrat | https://www.mccaskill.senate.gov |
| Montana | | |
| Steven D. Daines | 2021—Republican | https://www.daines.senate.gov |
| Jonathan Tester | 2019—Democrat | http://www.tester.senate.gov |
| Nebraska | | |
| Debra S. Fischer | 2019—Republican | http://www.fischer.senate.gov |
| Benjamin E. Sasse | 2021—Republican | http://www.sasse.senate.gov |
| Nevada | | |
| Catherine Cortez Masto | 2023—Democrat | https://www.cortezmasto.senate.gov |
| Dean A. Heller | 2019—Republican | http://www.heller.senate.gov |
| New Hampshire | | |
| Margaret Wood Hassan | 2023—Democrat | https://www.hassan.senate.gov |
| Jeanne Shaheen | 2021—Democrat | https://www.shaheen.senate.gov |
| New Jersey | | |
| Cory A. Booker | 2021—Democrat | http://www.booker.senate.gov |
| Robert Menendez | 2019—Democrat | https://www.menendez.senate.gov |
| New Mexico | | |
| Martin Heinrich | 2019—Democrat | http://www.heinrich.senate.gov |
| Thomas S. Udall | 2021—Democrat | http://www.tomudall.senate.gov |
| New York | | |
| Kirsten E. Gillibrand | 2019—Democrat | https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov |
| Charles E. Schumer | 2023—Democrat | https://www.schumer.senate.gov |
| North Carolina | | |
| Richard Burr | 2023—Republican | http://www.burr.senate.gov |
| Thomas R. Tillis | 2021—Republican | https://www.tillis.senate.gov |
| North Dakota | | |
| Heidi Heitkamp | 2019—Democrat | http://www.heitkamp.senate.gov |
| John H. Hoeven III | 2023—Republican | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov |
| Ohio | | |
| Sherrod C. Brown | 2019—Democrat | https://www.brown.senate.gov |
| Robert J. Portman | 2023—Republican | http://www.portman.senate.gov |
| Oklahoma | | |
| James M. Inhofe | 2021—Republican | http://www.inhofe.senate.gov |
| James Lankford | 2023—Republican | https://www.lankford.senate.gov |
| Oregon | | |
| Jeffrey A. Merkley | 2021—Democrat | https://www.merkley.senate.gov |
| Ronald L. Wyden | 2023—Democrat | https://www.wyden.senate.gov |
| Pennsylvania | | |
| Robert P. Casey, Jr. | 2019—Democrat | https://www.casey.senate.gov |
| Patrick J. Toomey | 2023—Republican | http://www.toomey.senate.gov |
| Rhode Island | | |
| John F. Reed | 2021—Democrat | https://www.reed.senate.gov |
| Sheldon Whitehouse | 2019—Democrat | https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov |
| South Carolina | | |
| Lindsey O. Graham | 2021—Republican | https://www.lgraham.senate.gov |
| Timothy E. Scott | 2023—Republican | https://www.scott.senate.gov |
| South Dakota | | |
| M. Michael Rounds | 2021—Republican | https://www.rounds.senate.gov |
| John R. Thune | 2023—Republican | https://www.thune.senate.gov |
| Tennessee | | |
| A. Lamar Alexander, Jr. | 2021—Republican | https://www.alexander.senate.gov |
| Robert P. Corker, Jr. | 2019—Republican | https://www.corker.senate.gov |
| Texas | | |
| John Cornyn III | 2021—Republican | https://www.cornyn.senate.gov |
| R. Edward Cruz | 2019—Republican | https://www.cruz.senate.gov |
| Utah | | |
| Orrin G. Hatch | 2019—Republican | http://www.hatch.senate.gov |
| Michael S. Lee | 2023—Republican | https://www.lee.senate.gov |
| Vermont | | |
| Patrick J. Leahy | 2023—Democrat | https://www.leahy.senate.gov |
| Bernard Sanders | 2019—Independent | https://www.sanders.senate.gov |
| Virginia | | |
| Timothy M. Kaine | 2019—Democrat | http://www.kaine.senate.gov |
| Mark R. Warner | 2021—Democrat | http://www.warner.senate.gov |
| Washington | | |
| Maria Cantwell | 2019—Democrat | https://www.cantwell.senate.gov |
| Patricia L. Murray | 2023—Democrat | http://www.murray.senate.gov |
| West Virginia | | |
| Shelley Moore Capito | 2021—Republican | https://www.capito.senate.gov |
| Joseph Manchin III | 2019—Democrat | http://www.manchin.senate.gov |
| Wisconsin | | |
| Tammy S. Baldwin | 2019—Democrat | https://www.baldwin.senate.gov |
| Ronald H. Johnson | 2023—Republican | https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov |
| Wyoming | | |
| John A. Barrasso | 2019—Republican | https://www.barrasso.senate.gov |
| Michael B. Enzi | 2021—Republican | http://www.enzi.senate.gov |
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| THE ABOVE LIST OF 100 SENATORS WAS UPDATED 01–2018. | |
| Republicans are 51; Democrats are 47; Independents are 2; and there are no vacancies. | |
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https://www.senate.gov Sources of Information
Art
The Senate's collections of ephemera, decorative art, graphic art, paintings, and sculpture can be viewed online.
http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/art/one_item_and_teasers/Explore_Senate_Art.htm Campaign Finance
The Federal Election Commission maintains a campaign finance database that contains information on candidates, including senatorial candidates, who file reports with the Commission. Users of the online "Candidate and Committee Viewer" can sort data and download them. The data presentations consist of biennial summaries, report summaries, and report images and downloads.
http://www.fec.gov/finance/disclosure/candcmte_info.shtml?tabIndex=1 Campaign Web Sites
The Library of Congress maintains a database of "Archived Web Sites" that includes thousands of official campaign Web sites. Former senatorial candidates' Web sites are part of this collection.
https://www.loc.gov/websites Career Opportunities
Information on fellowships, internships, and job openings is available online.
http://www.senate.gov/visiting/employment.htm Committees
Information on Senate committees is available online.
http://www.senate.gov/committees/committees_home.htm Congressional Record
Starting with the year 1995, the official record of the proceedings and debates of the U.S. Congress is available on Congress.gov.
https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record Starting with the year 1994, the official record of the proceedings and debates of the U.S. Congress is available on the Government Publishing Office's govinfo website.
https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/crec Contact a Senator
Phone numbers, postal addresses, and online forms are available for contacting a Senator.
http://www.senate.gov/senators/contact An online list of States also provides web forms for contacting a Senator via email.
http://www.senate.gov/senators/states.htm Directory
The online "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–Present," allows visitors to search for Members of Congress—past and present—by first or last name, political affiliation, position, State, or year or Congress.
http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp Glossary
A Senate glossary is available online.
http://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary.htm History
The Senate Historical Office has told the history of the Senate, from the First Federal Congress of 1789 through the early 21st century; explained its traditions; described the individuals who served in its Chamber, and examined the major issues that confronted these national leaders.
http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/a_three_section_with_teasers/Explore_Senate_History.htm Legislation / Records
Research guides and resources are available online.
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/legislative_home.htm Member Profiles
The "Members of the U.S. Congress" database contains profiles for Senators who have held office since 1973 or were still serving in the 93d Congress. Users of the database can filter profiles by chamber, Congress, political affiliation, and State or U.S. Territory. A Member profile includes the following: dates of service, State represented, party affiliation, and a picture when available, as well as a link to the Member's entry in the "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–Present" and a link to remarks made in the "Congressional Record." A profile also includes the list of legislation that the Member sponsored and cosponsored.
https://www.congress.gov/members Membership / Party Divisions
The Office of the Clerk's "Congressional Profile" Web page keeps a tally of the number of Democrats, Independents, Republicans, and vacant seats in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/cong.aspx Publications
The Congressional Directory, the Senate Manual, and telephone directory for the U.S. Senate are available from the Government Publishing Office's bookstore. Phone, 202-512-0132.
https://www.gpo.gov/about/bookstore.htm | Email:
mainbks@gpo.gov Websites
More information on legislation and the U.S. Senate is available on Congress.gov.
https://www.congress.gov More information also is available on the Government Publishing Office's govinfo website.
https://www.govinfo.gov http://www.senate.gov/general/contacting.htm