Congress by the Numbers – 2019

FAQs

116th Congress, 1st Session (2019)

CongressByTheNumbers.com

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Also see

 

Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121


116th Congress, New Members, House of Representatives
List of freshman class members of the 116th United States Congress – Wikipedia


Current Party Numbers: 116th Congress, 1st Session
House Senate
Democrats 233 45
Independents 1 2
Republicans 197 53
Vacancies 4 0

 

Sources: Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives and Wikipedia.

See also

For a table showing party control of the 80th through the 112th Congresses, see the Congressional Deskbook, § 5.51.

Resumes of Congressional Activity

Resumes of Congressional Activity are available from 1947 to present. They include a numerical overview of all legislative business transacted by the Senate and House, including:

  • Days in Session
  • Time in Session
  • Bills/Resolutions Introduced
  • Public Laws Enacted
  • Recorded Votes
  • Vetoes
  • Vetoes Overridden
  • Nominations submitted to the Senate by the President for Senate confirmation

Resumes of Congressional Activity

But wait! There’s more!

 


House versus Committee of the Whole


House


Committee of the Whole

Established by Constitution (Article I, Section 2)
Established by House rule for consideration of a specific measure

Mace raised
Mace lowered

Speaker presides
Chair of Committee of the Whole presides (appointed by Speaker)

One-hour rule
Five-minute rule for amendments; special rule from Rules Committee dictates procedure, after adoption of rule by House

Quorum of 218
Quorum of 100

One-fifth of members (44 with minimum quorum to trigger a recorded vote
25 members to trigger a recorded vote

Motion for previous question in order
Motion for previous question not in order; motion to limit or end debate may be offered

Motion to recommit in order
Motion to recommit not in order

Motion to reconsider in order
Motion to reconsider not in order

Routine business of House in order
Routine business of House not in order
Differences between the House and the Senate At-a-Glance


House


Senate

Larger – 435 members
Smaller – 100 members

Districts based on population
Two Senators from each state

Shorter term – 2 years
Longer term – 6 years

All stand for election every 2 years
6 year terms are staggered, 1/3 stand for election every 2 years – “continuing body”

At least 25 years of age when seated
At least 30 years of age when seated

Originates revenue legislation
Executive business (Treaties by 2/3, nominations)

Four calendars (Union, House, Private, and Discharge)
Two calendars (Legislative and Executive)

Less procedural flexibility / more restraints
More procedural flexibility / fewer restraints

Rules adopted each Congress (every 2 years)
Rules continuously in effect

Stronger Leadership – power less evenly distributed
Weaker Leadership – power more evenly distributed

Role of Rules Committee and special rules to govern floor consideration
Unanimous consent and complex unanimous consent time agreements to govern floor consideration

Scheduling by Speaker and majority-party leadership, with limited consultation among members
Scheduling by majority-party leadership, with broad consultation among all members

Germaneness of amendments generally required
Germaneness of amendments rarely required

Presiding officer has considerable discretion in recognition; rulings rarely challenged
Presiding officer has little discretion in recognition; rulings frequently challenged

Debate always restricted
Debate rarely restricted

Debate-ending motions by majority vote (218 representatives)
Cloture invoked by three-fifths vote (60 senators)

Quorum calls permitted in connection with record votes
Quorum calls permitted almost any time and used for constructive delay

Narrower constituency – House District
Larger constituency – entire state

Elections generally less competitive
Elections generally more competitive

Specialists
Generalists

Less reliant on staff
More reliant on staff

Less media coverage
More media coverage

More partisan
Less partisan

Adjourns at end of day
Recesses at end of most days

Salary: 2009 – 2019: $174,000
2008: $169,300
2006 and 2007: $165,200 (2005: $162,100)
For more information, see Pay and Perquisites of Members of Congress
Salary: 2009 – 2019: $174,000
2008: $169,300
2006 and 2007: $165,200 (2005: $162,100)
For more information, see Pay and Perquisites of Members of Congress

House and Joint Committee Information

Committee name = official web site | W = Wikipedia

Agriculture | W

Appropriations | W

Armed Services | W

Budget | W

Education and Workforce | W

Energy and Commerce | W

Ethics | W

Financial Services | W

Foreign Affairs | W

Homeland Security | W

House Administration | W

Intelligence, Permanent Select | W

Judiciary | W

Natural Resources | W

Oversight & Government Reform | W

Rules | W

Science, Space and Technology | W

Small Business | W

Transportation and Infrastructure | W

Veterans’ Affairs | W

Ways and Means | W

Joint Committees

Economic | W

Library (House) | W

Printing | W

Taxation | W

Senate Committee Information

Committee name = official web site | W = Wikipedia

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry | W

Appropriations | W

Armed Services | W

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs | W

Budget | W

Commerce, Science, and Transportation | W

Energy and Natural Resources | W

Environment and Public Works | W

Finance | W

Foreign Relations | W

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions | W

Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs | W

Judiciary | W

Rules and Administration | W

Small Business and Entrepreneurship | W

Veterans Affairs | W

Indian Affairs | W

Select Ethics | W

Select Intelligence | W

Special Aging | W

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quick DC Links – Washington Essentials
 

URL: CongressByTheNumbers.com

 

 

 





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