Seniority in the United States Senate
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Seniority in the United States Senate is valuable as it confers a number of perquisites and is based on length of continuous service, with ties broken by a series of factors. Customarily, the terms "senior senator" and "junior senator" are used to distinguish the two senators representing a particular state.
Benefits of seniority
The United States Constitution does not mandate differences in rights or power, but Senate rules give more power to senators with more seniority. Generally, senior senators will have more power, especially within their own caucuses. In addition, by custom the senior senators from the president's party control federal patronage appointments in their states. Thus being the junior senator is disadvantageous if the senior one is from the same party.
There are several perquisites, including the following:
- Senators are given preferential treatment in choosing committee assignments based on seniority. Seniority on a committee is based on length of time serving on that committee, which means a senator may rank above another in committee seniority but be more junior in the full Senate. Although the committee chairmanship is an elected position, it is traditionally given to the most senior senator of the majority party serving on the committee. The ranking member of a committee (called the vice-chairman in some select committees) is elected in the same way.
- Greater seniority enables a senator to choose a desk closer to the front of the Senate Chamber.
- Senators with higher seniority may choose to move into better office space as those offices are vacated.
- Seniority determines the ranking in the United States order of precedence although other factors, such as being a former President or First Lady, can place an individual higher in the order of precedence.
Determination of seniority
A senator's seniority is primarily determined by length of continuous service: a senator who has served for 12 years is more senior than one who has served for 10 years. Because multiple new senators tend to join at the beginning of a new Congress, there are 8 tiebreakers:[1]
- Former U.S. senator
- Former U.S. representative
- Former president
- Former vice president
- Former Cabinet member
- Former state governor
- Population of state based on the most recent census when the senator took office
- Alphabetical by last name (in case two senators came from the same state on the same day and have identical credentials)
When multiple senators have served in the same previous role, length of time in office is used to break the tie. For instance, Barbara Mikulski, Richard Shelby, and John McCain all took office on January 3, 1987, and each had previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives. Because they had served 10, 8, and 4 years, respectively, Mikulski is more senior than Shelby, and Shelby outranks McCain.
Current seniority list
The president pro tempore of the Senate is traditionally the most senior member of the majority party. Only relevant factors are listed below. For senators whose seniority is based on their states' respective populations, the state population ranking is given as determined by the relevant United States Census.[2][3][4][5]
| Rank | Name | Seniority date | Second factor | Third factor | Committee and leadership positions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Inouye (D-HI) | January 3, 1963 | Chair: Appropriations Dean of the Senate President pro tempore |
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| 2 | Patrick Leahy (D-VT) | January 3, 1975 | Chair: Judiciary | ||
| 3 | Richard Lugar (R-IN) | January 3, 1977 | Indiana 11th in population (1970) | Ranking Member: Foreign Relations | |
| 4 | Orrin Hatch (R-UT) | Utah 36th in population (1970) | Ranking Member: Finance | ||
| 5 | Max Baucus (D-MT) | December 15, 1978 | Chair: Finance | ||
| 6 | Thad Cochran (R-MS) | December 27, 1978 | Ranking Member: Appropriations | ||
| 7 | Carl Levin (D-MI) | January 3, 1979 | Chair: Armed Services | ||
| 8 | Chuck Grassley (R-IA) | January 3, 1981 | Ranking Member: Judiciary | ||
| 9 | Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) | January 3, 1983 | Chair: Energy | ||
| 10 | John Kerry (D-MA) | January 2, 1985 | Chair: Foreign Relations | ||
| 11 | Tom Harkin[6] (D-IA) | January 3, 1985 | Former Representative | Chair: H.E.L.P. | |
| 12 | Mitch McConnell (R-KY) | Minority Leader | |||
| 13 | Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) | January 15, 1985 | Chair: Commerce | ||
| 14 | Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) | January 3, 1987 | Former Representative (10 years) | ||
| 15 | Richard Shelby[7] (R-AL) | Former Representative (8 years) | Ranking Member: Banking | ||
| 16 | John McCain (R-AZ) | Former Representative (4 years) | Arizona 29th in population (1980) | Ranking Member: Armed Services | |
| 17 | Harry Reid (D-NV) | Nevada 43rd in population (1980) | Majority Leader Democratic Caucus Chair |
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| 18 | Kent Conrad[8] (D-ND) | Chair: Budget | |||
| 19 | Herb Kohl (D-WI) | January 3, 1989 | Wisconsin 16th in population (1980) | Chair: Aging | |
| 20 | Joe Lieberman[9] (ID-CT) | Connecticut 25th in population (1980) | Chair: Homeland Security | ||
| 21 | Daniel Akaka (D-HI) | May 16, 1990 | Chair: Indian Affairs | ||
| 22 | Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) | November 10, 1992 | Chair: Intelligence | ||
| 23 | Barbara Boxer (D-CA) | January 3, 1993 | Former Representative | Chair: Environment and Public Works Chair: Ethics |
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| 24 | Patty Murray (D-WA) | Chair: Veterans' Affairs Chair: DSCC |
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| 25 | Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) | June 14, 1993 | Ranking Member: Commerce | ||
| 26 | Jim Inhofe (R-OK) | November 17, 1994 | Ranking Member: Environment | ||
| 27 | Olympia Snowe (R-ME) | January 3, 1995 | Former Representative (16 years) | Ranking Member: Small Business | |
| 28 | Jon Kyl (R-AZ) | Former Representative (8 years) | Minority Whip | ||
| 29 | Ron Wyden (D-OR) | February 6, 1996 | |||
| 30 | Pat Roberts (R-KS) | January 3, 1997 | Former Representative (16 years) | Ranking Member: Agriculture | |
| 31 | Dick Durbin (D-IL) | Former Representative (14 years) | Majority Whip | ||
| 32 | Tim Johnson (D-SD) | Former Representative (10 years) | Chair: Banking | ||
| 33 | Jack Reed (D-RI) | Former Representative (6 years) | |||
| 34 | Mary Landrieu (D-LA) | Louisiana 21st in population (1990) | Chair: Small Business | ||
| 35 | Jeff Sessions (R-AL) | Alabama 22nd in population (1990) | Ranking Member: Budget | ||
| 36 | Susan Collins (R-ME) | Maine 38th in population (1990) | Ranking Member: Homeland Security | ||
| 37 | Mike Enzi (R-WY) | Wyoming 50th in population (1990) | Ranking Member: H.E.L.P. | ||
| 38 | Chuck Schumer (D-NY) | January 3, 1999 | Former Representative (18 years) | Chair: Rules Democratic Policy Chair |
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| 39 | Mike Crapo (R-ID) | Former Representative (6 years) | |||
| 40 | Bill Nelson (D-FL) | January 3, 2001 | Former Representative (12 years) | ||
| 41 | Tom Carper (D-DE) | Former Representative (10 years) | |||
| 42 | Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) | Former Representative (4 years) | Chair: Agriculture | ||
| 43 | Maria Cantwell (D-WA) | Former Representative (2 years) | |||
| 44 | Ben Nelson (D-NE) | ||||
| 45 | Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) | December 20, 2002 | Ranking Member: Energy | ||
| 46 | Frank Lautenberg[10] (D-NJ) | January 3, 2003 | Former Senator | ||
| 47 | Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) | Former Representative (8 years) | Georgia 10th in population (2000) | Ranking Member: Intelligence | |
| 48 | Lindsey Graham (R-SC) | South Carolina 26th in population (2000) | |||
| 49 | Lamar Alexander (R-TN) | Former Cabinet member | Republican Conference Chair Ranking Member: Rules |
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| 50 | John Cornyn[11] (R-TX) | Texas 2nd in population (2000) | Chair: NRSC | ||
| 51 | Mark Pryor (D-AR) | Arkansas 33rd in population (2000) | |||
| 52 | Richard Burr (R-NC) | January 3, 2005 | Former Representative (10 years) | Ranking Member: Veterans' Affairs | |
| 53 | Jim DeMint (R-SC) | Former Representative (6 years) | South Carolina 26th in population (2000) | Ranking Member: Joint Economic Committee | |
| 54 | Tom Coburn (R-OK) | Oklahoma 27th in population (2000) | |||
| 55 | John Thune (R-SD) | South Dakota 46th in population (2000) | Republican Policy Chair | ||
| 56 | Johnny Isakson (R-GA) | Former Representative (5 yrs., 10 mos.) | Ranking Member: Ethics | ||
| 57 | David Vitter (R-LA) | Former Representative (5 yrs., 7 mos.) | |||
| 58 | Bob Menendez (D-NJ) | January 18, 2006 | |||
| 59 | Ben Cardin (D-MD) | January 3, 2007 | Former Representative (20 years) | ||
| 60 | Bernie Sanders (I-VT) | Former Representative (16 years) | |||
| 61 | Sherrod Brown (D-OH) | Former Representative (14 years) | |||
| 62 | Bob Casey, Jr. (D-PA) | Pennsylvania 6th in population (2000) | Chair: Joint Economic Committee | ||
| 63 | Jim Webb[12] (D-VA) | Virginia 12th in population (2000) | |||
| 64 | Bob Corker (R-TN) | Tennessee 16th in population (2000) | Ranking Member: Aging | ||
| 65 | Claire McCaskill (D-MO) | Missouri 17th in population (2000) | |||
| 66 | Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) | Minnesota 21st in population (2000) | |||
| 67 | Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) | Rhode Island 43rd in population (2000) | |||
| 68 | Jon Tester (D-MT) | Montana 44th in population (2000) | |||
| 69 | John Barrasso (R-WY) | June 22, 2007 | Ranking Member: Indian Affairs Conference Vice Chair |
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| 70 | Roger Wicker (R-MS) | December 31, 2007 | |||
| 71 | Mark Udall (D-CO) | January 3, 2009 | Former Representative (10 years) | Colorado 24th in population (2000) | |
| 72 | Tom Udall (D-NM) | New Mexico 36th in population (2000) | |||
| 73 | Mike Johanns (R-NE) | Former Cabinet member | |||
| 74 | Jeanne Shaheen[13] (D-NH) | Former Governor (6 years) | |||
| 75 | Mark Warner (D-VA) | Former Governor (4 years) | |||
| 76 | Jim Risch (R-ID) | Former Governor (7 months) | |||
| 77 | Kay Hagan (D-NC) | North Carolina 11th in population (2000) | |||
| 78 | Jeff Merkley (D-OR) | Oregon 28th in population (2000) | |||
| 79 | Mark Begich (D-AK) | Alaska 48th in population (2000) | |||
| 80 | Michael Bennet (D-CO) | January 21, 2009[14] | |||
| 81 | Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) | January 26, 2009[15] | |||
| 82 | Al Franken (D-MN) | July 7, 2009[16] | |||
| 83 | Scott Brown (R-MA) | February 4, 2010 | |||
| 84 | Joe Manchin (D-WV) | November 15, 2010 | Former Governor | ||
| 85 | Chris Coons (D-DE) | ||||
| 86 | Mark Kirk (R-IL) | November 29, 2010 | |||
| 87 | Dan Coats (R-IN)[17] | January 3, 2011 | Former Senator | ||
| 88 | Roy Blunt (R-MO) | Former Representative (14 years) | Missouri 18th in population (2000) | ||
| 89 | Jerry Moran (R-KS) | Kansas 33rd in population (2000) | |||
| 90 | Rob Portman (R-OH) | Former Representative (12 years) | |||
| 91 | John Boozman (R-AR) | Former Representative (10 years) | |||
| 92 | Pat Toomey (R-PA) | Former Representative (6 years) | |||
| 93 | John Hoeven (R-ND) | Former Governor | |||
| 94 | Marco Rubio (R-FL) | Florida 4th in population (2000) | |||
| 95 | Ron Johnson (R-WI) | Wisconsin 20th in population (2000) | |||
| 96 | Rand Paul (R-KY) | Kentucky 26th in population (2000) | |||
| 97 | Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) | Connecticut 29th in population (2000) | |||
| 98 | Mike Lee (R-UT) | Utah 34th in population (2000) | |||
| 99 | Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) | New Hampshire 42nd in population (2000) | |||
| 100 | Dean Heller (R-NV) | May 9, 2011 | |||
| Rank | Name | Seniority date | Second factor | Third factor | Committee and leadership positions |
See also
Notes
- ^ "A Chronological List of United States Senators 1789–present". Official website of the United States Senate. http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/senators_chronological.htm.
- ^ 1971 U.S Census Report Contains 1970 Census results.
- ^ 1981 U.S Census Report Contains 1980 Census results.
- ^ 1991 U.S Census Report Contains 1990 Census results.
- ^ American FactFinder, United States Census Bureau. "2000 Census State Population Rankings". Factfinder.census.gov. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=n&_lang=en&mt_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_GCTPH1R_US9S&format=US-9S&_box_head_nbr=GCT-PH1-R&ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&geo_id=01000US. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
- ^ Tom Harkin is currently the Senate's most senior junior senator.
- ^ Richard Shelby was originally elected as a Democrat. He switched parties in 1994 with no break in his service or seniority.
- ^ Kent Conrad was originally elected to North Dakota's other Senate seat. He moved to his current seat in 1992, with no break in his service or seniority.
- ^ Joe Lieberman lost the Democratic primary in 2006, but subsequently won re-election as a third party candidate ("Connecticut for Lieberman"). He caucuses with the Democratic Party, but has chosen to refer to himself as an "Independent Democrat." Despite the party change, Lieberman retains his seniority since there is no break in his Senate service.
- ^ Frank Lautenberg previously served in the Senate from January 1983 to January 2001, but under the rules, does not retain seniority from that prior service. Lautenberg has sought restoration of his seniority based on his prior service, but has not received it. - HillNews.com
- ^ John Cornyn's predecessor, Phil Gramm, resigned early, effective November 30, 2002, so that Cornyn could take office early, and move into Gramm's office suite in order to begin organizing his staff. Cornyn did not, however, gain seniority, owing to a 1980 Rules Committee policy that no longer gave seniority to senators who entered Congress early for the purpose of gaining advantageous office space.
- ^ Jim Webb served as Secretary of the Navy; however, that has not been a Cabinet-level position since 1947 and therefore does not affect his Seniority.
- ^ Jeanne Shaheen is currently the Senate's most junior senior senator.
- ^ The seniority date for an appointed Senator is the date of the appointment, not the date of taking the oath.
- ^ Kirsten Gillibrand's appointment was January 23, but it was not effective until she resigned from the House on January 26.
- ^ Al Franken was elected to the senate term that began on Jan 3, 2009, but due to legal challenges, could not be sworn in until July 7, 2009. (see United States Senate election in Minnesota, 2008 for more details). His seniority date is based on the date he was sworn in (see Rushing, J. Taylor (July 8, 2009). "Franken ranks last in Senate seniority". The Hill. http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/lawmaker-news/49712-franken-ranks-last-in-senate-seniority. Retrieved September 25, 2009. [Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/5k3wute8v])
- ^ Dan Coats previously served in the Senate from 1989 to 1999.
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