Overview
The United States Congress was originally intended by the Framers of the Constitution to be the most important of the three branches of government. During the 20th Century, however, the Executive and Judicial Branches steadily encroached upon the legislative "turf" of Capitol Hill. The relative power of Congress has waxed and waned in a cyclical fashion over the years, generally receding in times of war, when strong presidential authority is expected. The bicameral structure of Congress-- the House of Representatives vs. the Senate -- was a clear example of the desire by the Founding Fathers to restrain the exercise of government power, so as to preserve liberty. Those who express frustration at the slow pace of congressional work often forget this basic point. The U.S. government was not supposed to be "efficient."
Principal functions
Lawmaking: Congress may pass laws, subject to the limits set forth in the Constitution.
Budget: Both chambers have responsibilities for deciding on taxing and spending issues. The House plays a special role, inasmuch as all taxing bills must originate in the House.
Representation: Both chambers, and especially the House, serve to voice the concerns and wants of their constituents. If voters are pleased with what their legislators do in Washington, they are more likely to be reelected, and vice versa.
Advice and Consent: The U.S. Senate plays a special "Advice and Consent" role, having the power to confirm or reject presidential appointees for Cabinet posts (department secretaries, etc.), judgeships, ambassadors, and heads of other key Executive Branch agencies. The Senate also has the power to ratify or reject foreign treaties.
Oversight: Congressional committees can hold hearings to inquire into how Executive branch agencies are performing their duties.
Constituent service: Members of Congress try to help individual constituents get government services, cutting bureaucratic red tape, etc.
Synopsis of R. Douglas Arnold's Logic of Congressional Action --
A rational choice approach to analyzing policy making by the U.S. Congress.
Organization
Leaders of each chamber for the subsequent two-year term are selected during the "lame-duck" session that follows each congressional election. In the Senate, the Majority Leader is in charge of floor proceedings, although there is greater flexibility with regard to procedure compared to the House. The Speaker of the House exercises strong control over the agenda. Both chambers delegate much of their work to various committees, but committees play an especially large role on the House side.
Current status
After two years of full control of the executive and legislative branches by the Republicans, the Democrats retook control of the House in the 2018 elections, with a net gain of 40 seats. In the Senate, however, the Republicans not only held on to majority power but added two seats. Given the increasingly sharp ideological polarization, it seems unlikely that divided party government will get much done during the second half of President Trump's term. The main question is whether the expected failure by Congress to reach agreement on budget issues, etc. will lead to a government shutdown. Another big question is whether the House Democrats will vote to impeach President Trump in spite of the high unlikelihood of the Republican-controlled Senate voting to remove him from office.
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DID YOU KNOW?
The number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives was permanently capped at 435 by an Act of Congress in 1912.
U.S. House of Representatives, party control
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| Term |
| Democrats |
| |
Republicans |
| 1971-1972 |
Carl Albert255 |
180 |
| 1973-1974 |
Carl Albert242+1 |
192 |
| 1975-1976 |
Carl Albert291 |
144 |
| 1977-1978 |
Tip O'Neill292 |
143 |
| 1979-1980 |
Tip O'Neill277 |
158 |
| 1981-1982 |
Tip O'Neill242+1 |
192 |
| 1983-1984 |
Tip O'Neill269 |
166 |
| 1985-1986 |
Tip O'Neill253 |
182 |
| 1987-1988 |
Jim Wright258 |
177 |
| 1989-1990 |
Tom Foley260 |
175 |
| 1991-1992 |
Tom Foley267 |
167 |
| 1993-1994 |
Tom Foley258 |
176 |
| 1995-1996 |
204 |
230Newt Gingrich |
| 1997-1998 |
207 |
227Newt Gingrich |
| 1999-2000 |
211 |
223Dennis Hastert |
| 2001-2002 |
212 |
221Dennis Hastert |
| 2003-2004 |
205 |
229Dennis Hastert |
| 2005-2006 |
202 |
232Dennis Hastert |
| 2007-2008 |
Nancy Pelosi244 |
191 |
| 2009-2010 |
Nancy Pelosi255 |
180 |
| 2011-2012 |
195 |
240John Boehner |
| 2013-2014 |
201 |
234John Boehner |
| 2015-2016 |
188 |
247John Boehner / Paul Ryan * |
| 2017-2018 |
195 |
240Paul Ryan |
| 2019-2020 |
Nancy Pelosi 235 |
199 |
| 2021-2022 |
Nancy Pelosi 221 |
211 |
| 2023-2024 |
** 213 |
222 Kevin McCarthy ** |
| Term |
| Democrats |
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Republicans |
SOURCES: The World Almanac and Book of Facts, 2012; Washington Post; www.politico.com; www.house.gov
* NOTE: John Boehner resigned as speaker of the house in October 2015, and was replaced by Paul Ryan.
** NOTE: Rep. Donald McEachin (D-VA) died three weeks after being re-elected in Nov. 2022; Jennifer McClellon (D) won the special election. Although both chambers were supposed to be sworn in on January 3, the Republicans were unable to muster enough votes to select a new Speaker of the House until January 7. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has replaced Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in that role.
DID YOU KNOW?
The United States Senate considers itself "the greatest deliberative body in the world." The British House of Commons might beg to differ, however.
U.S. Senate, party control
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| Term |
| Democrats |
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| |
Republicans |
| 1971-1972 |
Mike Mansfield54+2 |
44 |
| 1973-1974 |
Mike Mansfield56+2 |
42 |
| 1975-1976 |
Mike Mansfield60+2 |
38 |
| 1977-1978 |
Robert Byrd61+1 |
38 |
| 1979-1980 |
Robert Byrd58+1 |
41 |
| 1981-1982 |
46+1 |
53Howard Baker |
| 1983-1984 |
46 |
54Howard Baker |
| 1985-1986 |
47 |
53Bob Dole |
| 1987-1988 |
Robert Byrd55 |
45 |
| 1989-1990 |
George Mitchell55 |
45 |
| 1991-1992 |
George Mitchell56 |
44 |
| 1993-1994 |
George Mitchell57 |
43 |
| 1995-1996 |
48 |
52Bob Dole |
| 1997-1998 |
45 |
55Trent Lott |
| 1999-2000 |
45 |
55Trent Lott |
| 2001-2002 |
Tom Daschle51* |
49 |
| 2003-2004 |
49 |
51Bill Frist |
| 2005-2006 |
44+1 |
55Bill Frist |
| 2007-2008 |
Harry Reid50+1 |
49 |
| 2009-2010 |
Harry Reid57+2 |
41 |
| 2011-2012 |
Harry Reid51+2 |
47 |
| 2013-2014 |
Harry Reid53+2 |
45 |
| 2015-2016 |
44+2 |
54Mitch McConnell |
| 2017-2018 |
46+2 |
52Mitch McConnell |
| 2019-2020 |
** 45+2 |
53 **Mitch McConnell |
| 2021-2022 |
Chuck Schumer *** 48+2 |
50 *** |
| 2023-2024 |
Chuck Schumer**** 48+3 |
49 |
| Term |
| Democrats |
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Republicans |
SOURCES: The World Almanac and Book of Facts, 2012; Washington Post; www.politico.com
* In May 2001, Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords switched parties, giving Democrats control of the Senate, and rendering Vice President Dick Cheney's tie-breaking vote moot.
Since 2005, one or two independents have caucused with the Democrats, hence "+1" and "+2".
** Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith won the runoff election for U.S. Senate in Mississippi in December 2018.
*** Democrats gained control of the Senate on Jan. 20, 2021, after they won two runoff elections in Georgia, giving them a 50-50 tie, as the new Vice President Kamala Harris (who had just been replaced as one of the senators from California) became the tie-breaking vote.
**** In Dec. 2022, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) changed her party affiliation to Independent, but plans to continue caucusing with the Democrats.
