Majority Leader of the United States Senate Democratic Leader Incumbent Harry Reid since January 3, 2007 Style Senator Inaugural holder Oscar W. Underwood Formation April 27, 1920

Minority Leader of the United States Senate Republican Leader Incumbent Mitch McConnell since January 3, 2007 Style Senator Inaugural holder Charles Curtis Formation March 4, 1925

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The Senate Majority and Minority Leaders are two United States Senators who are elected by the party conferences that hold the majority and the minority respectively. These leaders serve as the chief Senate spokesmen for their parties and manage and schedule the legislative and executive business of the Senate. By rule, the Presiding Officer gives the Majority Leader priority in obtaining recognition to speak on the floor of the Senate.

The Majority Leader customarily serves as the chief representative of his or her party in Senate, and sometimes even in all of Congress if the House of Representatives and thus the office of Speaker of the House is controlled by the opposition party.

Many state senates are organized in the same way as the United States Senate.

[edit] Current floor leaders

The Senate is currently composed of 58 Democrats, 40 Republicans, and two independents—Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Bernie Sanders of Vermont—both of whom caucus with the Democrats.

The incumbent floor leaders are Democrat Harry Reid of Nevada and Republican Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, for the majority and minority parties, respectively.

[edit] History

The Democrats began the practice of appointing floor leaders in 1920 while they were in the minority. In 1925 the majority (at the time) Republicans also adopted this language when Charles Curtis became the first Majority Leader.^{[citation needed]}

The Constitution designates the Vice President of the United States as President of the Senate. The Constitution also calls for a President pro tempore to serve as the leader of the body when the President of the Senate (the Vice President) is absent. In practice, neither the Vice President nor the President pro tempore—customarily the most senior (longest-serving) Senator in the majority party—actually presides over the Senate on a daily basis; that task is given to junior Senators of the majority party, in part so they may learn proper procedure. For these reasons, it is the Majority Leader who in practice manages the Senate.^{[citation needed]}

In recent years, it has become more common for the leader of the minority party to be referred to as the leader of his party (Democratic or Republican Leader) instead of as Minority Leader.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] List of party leaders

The Democratic Party first selected a leader in 1920. The Republican Party first formally designated a leader in 1925.

[edit] See also

• Assistant party leaders of the United States Senate
• Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives
• President pro tempore of the United States Senate

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Majority and Minority Leaders and Party Whips, via Senate.gov
• Senate Majority
• Republican Minority

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v • d • e United States Senate Minority Leaders Underwood • Robinson • McNary • Austin • McNary • White • Barkley • Wherry • Bridges • Johnson • Knowland • Dirksen • Scott • Baker • Byrd • Dole • Daschle • Lott • Daschle • Lott • Frist • Daschle • Reid • McConnell

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