The One Hundred Eleventh United States Congress is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It began during the last two weeks of the George W. Bush administration, with the remainder spanning the first two years of the Barack Obama administration. The Congress will last from January 3, 2009, until January 3, 2011, and it began its first session on January 6, 2009. The apportionment of seats in the House is based on the 2000 U.S. Census. In the November 4, 2008 elections, the Democratic Party increased its majorities in both chambers. A new delegate seat was created for the Northern Mariana Islands.[2] [edit] Major events - January 2009: Two Senate seats were disputed when the Congress convened:
- An appointment dispute over the Illinois seat vacated by President Barack Obama arose following Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's alleged solicitation of bribes in exchange for an appointment to the Senate. Roland Burris (D) was appointed to the seat on December 31, 2008, his credentials were accepted on January 12, 2009, and he was sworn in to office on January 15, 2009.
- An election dispute over the Minnesota seat previously held by Norm Coleman (R), between Coleman and challenger Al Franken (D), was decided in late June 2009 in favor of Franken,[3] who was sworn in on July 7, 2009.[4]
- January 8, 2009: Joint session counted the Electoral College votes of the 2008 presidential election.[1]
- January 20, 2009: Inauguration of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
- November 2, 2010: 2010 general elections scheduled.
[edit] Major legislation [edit] Enacted - January 29, 2009: Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, Pub.L. 111-2
- February 4, 2009: Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, Pub.L. 111-3
- February 17, 2009: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Pub.L. 111-5
- March 11, 2009: Omnibus Appropriations Act, Pub.L. 111-8
- March 30, 2009: Omnibus Public Land Management Act, Pub.L. 111-11
- April 21, 2009: Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, Pub.L. 111-13
- May 20, 2009: Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, Pub.L. 111-22
- May 22, 2009: Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act, Pub.L. 111-23
- May 22, 2009: Credit CARD Act, Pub.L. 111-24
- June 22, 2009: Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, as Division A of Pub.L. 111-31
- June 24, 2009: Supplemental Appropriations Act, Pub.L. 111-32
- October 28, 2009: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, including the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, Pub.L. 111-84
- November 6, 2009: Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act, Pub.L. 111-92
[edit] Proposed - (in alphabetical order)
- See also: Active Legislation, 111th Congress, via senate.gov
[edit] Vetoed [edit] Major resolutions [edit] Select committees [edit] Hearings [edit] Party summary - Resignations and new members are discussed in the "Changes in membership" section, below.
[edit] Senate | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | | | | | | | Democratic | Independent | Republican | Vacant | | End of previous Congress | 48 | 2 | 49 | 99 | 1 | | | Begin | 55 | 2 | 41 | 98 | 2 | | January 15, 2009 | 56 | 99 | 1 | | January 20, 2009 | 55 | 98 | 2 | | January 27, 2009 | 56 | 99 | 1 | | April 30, 2009 | 57 | 40 | | July 7, 2009 | 58 | 100 | 0 | | August 25, 2009 | 57 | 99 | 1 | | September 25, 2009 | 58 | 100 | 0 | | Latest voting share | 60% | 40% | | [edit] House of Representatives | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | | | | | | | Democratic | Independent | Republican | Vacant | | End of previous Congress | 235 | 0 | 198 | 433 | 2 | | | Begin | 256 | 0 | 178 | 434 | 1 | | January 26, 2009 | 255 | 433 | 2 | | February 24, 2009 | 254 | 432 | 3 | | April 21, 2009 | 255 | 433 | 2 | | April 29, 2009 | 256 | 434 | 1 | | June 26, 2009 | 255 | 433 | 2 | | July 16, 2009 | 256 | 434 | 1 | | September 21, 2009 | 177 | 433 | 2 | | November 5, 2009 | 257 | 434 | 1 | | November 6, 2009 | 258 | 435 | 0 | | Latest voting share | 59.3% | 0.0% | 40.6% | | | Non-voting members | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | [edit] Leadership Contents: Senate: Majority (D), Minority (R) • House: Majority (D), Minority (R) [edit] Senate [edit] Majority (Democratic) leadership [edit] Minority (Republican) leadership [edit] House of Representatives [edit] Majority (Democratic) leadership  Senators' party membership by state, as of September 25, 2009 [edit] Minority (Republican) leadership [edit] Members [edit] Senate [edit] House of Representatives  Members' party membership by district Democratic Republican  Percentage of members from each party by state at the opening of the 111th Congress in January 2009, ranging from dark blue (most Democratic) to dark red (most Republican).
| (3 Democrats, 4 Republicans) (1 Republican) (5 Democrats, 3 Republicans) (3 Democrats, 1 Republican) (34 Democrats, 19 Republicans) (5 Democrats, 2 Republicans) (5 Democrats) (1 Republican) (10 Democrats, 15 Republican) (6 Democrats, 7 Republicans) (2 Democrats) (1 Democrat, 1 Republican) (12 Democrats, 7 Republicans) (5 Democrats, 4 Republicans) (3 Democrats, 2 Republicans) (1 Democrat, 3 Republicans) (2 Democrats, 4 Republicans) (1 Democrat, 6 Republicans) (2 Democrats) (7 Democrats, 1 Republicans) (10 Democrats) (8 Democrats, 7 Republicans) (5 Democrats, 3 Republicans) (3 Democrats, 1 Republican) | (4 Democrats, 5 Republicans) (1 Republican) (3 Republicans) (2 Democrats, 1 Republican) (2 Democrats) (8 Democrats, 5 Republicans) (3 Democrats) (27 Democrats, 2 Republicans) (8 Democrats, 5 Republicans) (1 Democrat) (10 Democrats, 8 Republicans) (1 Democrat, 4 Republicans) (4 Democrats, 1 Republican) (12 Democrats, 7 Republicans) (2 Democrats) (2 Democrats, 4 Republicans) (1 Democrat) (5 Democrats, 4 Republicans) (12 Democrats, 20 Republicans) (1 Democrat, 2 Republicans) (1 Democrat) (6 Democrats, 5 Republicans) (6 Democrats, 3 Republicans) (2 Democrats, 1 Republican) (5 Democrats, 3 Republicans) (1 Republican) [edit] Non-voting members | [edit] Changes in membership [edit] Senate Four of the changes are associated with the 2008 presidential election and appointments to the Obama administration, one Senator changed parties, one election was disputed, one Senator died, one Senator resigned, and three appointed Senators will serve only until special elections are held during this congress. | Date seat became vacant or otherwise affected | State
(class) | Previous | Reason for change | Subsequent | Date of successor's taking seat | | January 3, 2009[13] | Minnesota
(2) | Vacant | Incumbent Norm Coleman (R) challenged the election of Al Franken (D). Following recounts and litigation, Coleman conceded. | Al Franken
(D) | July 7, 2009[14] | | January 3, 2009[15] | Illinois
(3) | Vacant | Barack Obama (D) resigned near the end of the previous Congress, after being elected President of the United States.[16] Due to a credentials challenge, his successor—appointed December 31, 2008, during the last Congress—was not sworn in to fill his seat until 12 days after the initiation of this Congress.[17] | Roland Burris[18]
(D) | January 15, 2009[17] | | January 15, 2009 | Delaware
(2) | Joe Biden
(D) | Resigned to assume the position of Vice President.[19]
The appointed successor will fill the seat until a special election in November 2010. | Ted Kaufman[20]
(D) | January 16, 2009[21] | | January 20, 2009 | Colorado
(3) | Ken Salazar
(D) | Resigned to become Secretary of the Interior.
The appointed successor will fill the seat until a special election in November 2010. | Michael Bennet[22]
(D) | January 22, 2009[23] | | January 21, 2009 | New York
(1) | Hillary Clinton
(D) | Resigned to become Secretary of State.
The appointed successor will fill the seat until a special election in November 2010. | Kirsten Gillibrand[24]
(D) | January 27, 2009 | | April 30, 2009 | Pennsylvania
(3) | Arlen Specter
(R) | Changed party affiliation.[12] | Arlen Specter
(D) | April 30, 2009 | | August 25, 2009 | Massachusetts
(1) | Ted Kennedy
(D) | Died.
The appointed successor will fill the seat until a special election in January 2010.[25][26][27] | Paul G. Kirk
(D) | September 25, 2009 | | September 9, 2009 | Florida
(3) | Mel Martinez
(R) | Resigned for personal reasons.[28]
The appointed successor will serve the remainder of the Congress. | George LeMieux
(R) | September 10, 2009[29][30] | | | TBD, after January 19, 2010 | Massachusetts
(1) | Paul G. Kirk
(D) | The appointment lasts only until the January 19, 2010 special election, in which he is not a candidate.[31]
The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of the term that expires January 3, 2013. | TBD | TBD, after January 19, 2010 | [edit] House of Representatives The five changes to date have been associated with appointments to the Obama administration, four directly and one indirectly. One Congressman will resign to take a public policy job. House vacancies are only filled by elections. State laws regulate when (and if) there will be special elections. | Date seat became vacant | District | Previous | Reason for change | Subsequent | Date of successor's taking office | | January 3, 2009 | Illinois 5th | Vacant | Rahm Emanuel (D) resigned near the end of the previous Congress after being named White House Chief of Staff.
A special election was held April 7, 2009 | Michael Quigley
(D) | April 21, 2009 | | January 26, 2009 | New York 20th | Kirsten Gillibrand
(D) | Resigned when appointed to the Senate, replacing Hillary Clinton who became Secretary of State.
A special election was held March 31, 2009. | Scott Murphy
(D) | April 29, 2009 | | February 24, 2009 | California 32nd | Hilda Solis
(D) | Resigned to become Secretary of Labor.
A special election was held July 14, 2009. | Judy Chu
(D) | July 16, 2009 | | June 26, 2009 | California 10th | Ellen Tauscher
(D) | Resigned to become Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.
A special election was held November 3, 2009. | John Garamendi
(D)[32] | November 5, 2009[33] | | September 21, 2009 | New York 23rd | John M. McHugh
(R) | Resigned to become Secretary of the Army.[34]
A special election was held November 3, 2009. | Bill Owens
(D)[35] | November 6, 2009 | | | TBD, sometime in January 2010[36] | Florida 19th | Robert Wexler
(D) | Will resign to become president of the Center for Middle East Peace & Economic Cooperation.[36]
A special election might be held. | TBD | TBD | [edit] Employees [edit] Senate [edit] House of Representatives [edit] See also [edit] Elections [edit] Membership lists [edit] References - ^ a b See Pub.L. 110-430. Section 1 sets the beginning of the first session of the 111th Congress. Section 2 sets the date for counting Electoral College votes.
- ^ Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, Pub.L. 110-229
- ^ "Certificate of Election". Office of the Minnesota Governor, via StarTribune.com. June 30, 2009. Archived from the original on July 20, 2009. http://www.webcitation.org/5iQHuc9g0. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
- ^ Mitch Jeserich (July 5, 2009). "Can The 60 Seats Give The Democrats a Filibuster Proof Senate?". NewsJunkiePost. http://newsjunkiepost.com/2009/07/05/can-the-60-seats-give-the-democrats-a-filibuster-proof-senate/.
- ^ S.Res. 203, resolution to provide for the appointment of a committee to receive and to report evidence with respect to the articles of impeachment against Judge Samuel B. Kent.
- ^ "Senate Takes First Steps Toward Judge’s Impeachment Trial". CQ Politics. Congressional Quarterly. June 24, 2009. Archived from the original on July 20, 2009. http://www.webcitation.org/5iQHuCA5k. Retrieved June 24, 2009.
- ^ Articles of impeachment against Judge Kent were dismissed by the Senate on July 22, 2009, and the Impeachment Trial Committee terminated. 2009 Congressional Record, Vol. 155, Page S7833
- ^ The Democratic Senate Majority Leader also serves as the Chairman of the Democratic Conference.
- ^ a b "Thune Elected Republican Policy Committee Chairman". Office of U.S. Senator John Thune. 2009-06-25. http://thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=ae77697e-be0b-4801-8e3a-d4965d8282b7&Month=6&Year=2009. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
- ^ Burris was appointed on December 31, 2008, during the 110th United States Congress. However, he was not allowed to take the oath until January 15, 2009, due to the controversy surrounding Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who appointed him.
- ^ Al Franken was elected to the term beginning January 3, 2009, but did not take office until July 7, 2009 due to a recount and subsequent election challenge.
- ^ a b Arlen Specter announced his switch from the Republican to the Democratic party on April 28, and it officially took effect on April 30. "Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress". http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000709.
- ^ Vacancy resulted because a senator could not be seated due to a disputed election
- ^ Hulse, Carl (July 7, 2009). "And Here’s Senator Franken". NYTimes.com (New York Times). http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/07/and-heres-senator-franken/. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
- ^ Vacancy continued from previous congress
- ^ Mason, Jeff (January 27, 2009). "Obama resigns Senate seat, thanks Illinois". WashingtonPost.com (Washington Post). http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/16/AR2008111600753.html. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
- ^ a b Hulse, Carl (January 27, 2009). "Burris Is Sworn In". NYTimes.com (New York Times). http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/burris-is-sworn-in/. Retrieved January 15, 2009.
- ^ "Burris v. White, Illinois Supreme Court, No. 107816". January 9, 2009. http://www.state.il.us/court/OPINIONS/SupremeCourt/2009/January/107816.pdf. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
- ^ Mark Murray (January 9, 2009). "Biden to Resign from Senate Thursday". MSNBC. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/01/09/1738560.aspx.
- ^ "Longtime Biden aide picked to fill his Senate seat". WJLA.com. November 24, 2008. http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1108/572587.html. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
- ^ Kathleen Hunter and Catharine Richert, CQ Staff (January 14, 2009). "Illinois, Delaware Senators to Be Seated in First Round of Replacements". CQ Politics (Congressional Quarterly). http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000003010505.
- ^ "Official Press Release from Governor Bill Ritter, Jr., Jan. 3, 2009, appointing Michael Bennet". Colorado.gov. January 3, 2009. http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&cid=1230985756099&pagename=GovRitter%2FGOVRLayout.
- ^ Associated Press (January 19, 2009). "Ken Salazar sends Senate resignation". KJCT8.com. http://www.kjct8.com/Global/story.asp?S=9696407. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
- ^ Danny Hakim and Nicholas Confessore (January 23, 2009). "Paterson Picks Gillibrand for Senate Seat". NYTimes.com (New York Times). http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/nyregion/24senator.html. Retrieved September 29, 2009.
- ^ Phillips, Frank. "Panel to weigh Kennedy request for interim senator". Boston.com (Boston Globe). http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/08/patrick_to_make.html.
- ^ Goddnough, Abby; Carl Hulse (September 23, 2009). "Kennedy Confidant Expected to Take Senate Seat". NYTimes.com (New York Times). http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/24/us/politics/24massachusetts.html. Retrieved September 23, 2009.
- ^ Associated Press (September 23, 2009). "House OKs Kennedy replacement, but not immediately". Boston.com (Boston Globe). http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/09/23/house_oks_kennedy_replacement_but_not_immediately. Retrieved September 29, 2009.
- ^ 2009 Congressional Record, Vol. 155, Page S9147
- ^ "Crist Officially Names Former Aide As New Senator". CNNPolitics.com (CNN). August 28, 2009. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/28/crist-officially-names-former-aide-as-new-senator.
- ^ 2009 Congressional Record, Vol. 155, Page S9190
- ^ "Paul Kirk to fill Kennedy's Senate seat". CNNPolitics.com (CNN). September 24, 2009. http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/24/kennedy.replacement.
- ^ Blake, Aaron (November 4, 2009). "Garamendi wins House seat in California special election". The Hill. http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/66239-garamendi-wins-house-seat-in-california-special-election. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ^ "John Garamendi Wins in 10th Congressional District with Commanding Lead". California Chronicle. November 5, 2009. http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/view/127151. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ^ Weiner, Mark (September 16, 2009). "Rep. John McHugh is confirmed as Secretary of the Army". Syracuse Post-Standard. syracuse.com. http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/rep_john_mchugh_is_confirmed_a.html.
- ^ Rudin, Ken (November 6, 2009). "Democrat Bill Owens Wins In NY 23". Political Junkie. NPR. http://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/2009/11/democrat_bill_owens_wins_in_ny.html. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ^ a b Man, Anthony (October 14, 2009). "Wexler makes it official: leaving Congress in January". Sun Sentinel. http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2009/10/wexler_makes_it_official_leavi_1.html. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ^ 2009 Congressional Record, Vol. 155, Page H24 (January 6, 2009)
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