Seniority / Junior Senator / Senior Senator (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Seniority / Junior Senator / Senior Senator Cartoon explanation here. The status given members according to their length of service in the chamber, which entitles a member with greater seniority to preferential treatment in matters such as committee assignments. In the House, the Press Gallery … Read more

Gang of Four (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Gang of Four “Gang of Four” intelligence notifications generally are oral briefings of certain particularly sensitive non-covert action intelligence activities, including principally, but not exclusively, intelligence collection programs, that the intelligence community typically limits to the chairmen and ranking members of the two congressional intelligence … Read more

Committee on Committees / Party Leaders (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Committee on Committees / Party Leaders At the beginning of each Congress, members meet to organize and select their leaders. Committees formed in each party conference and responsible for nominating the party’s members to committee membership and committee leadership positions. Nominations are subject to approval … Read more

Ranking Minority Member / Ranking Member (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Ranking Minority Member / Ranking Member photo credit: Tambako the Jaguar The highest ranking (and usually longest serving) minority-party member of a standing committee or subcommittee. Senators may not serve as ranking minority member on more than one standing committee. The “Ranking Member” is the … Read more