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The 115th Usa Congress was the 2017-2019 session of the legislative co-operative of the U.S. federal government, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The 115th Congress convened on January iii, 2017, and concluded on January three, 2019. New members were elected on November 8, 2016.

President Donald Trump (R) issued no vetoes during the 115th Congress. For more data on vetoes issued during the Trump assistants, click hither.

Leadership

Senate

Position Representative Party
President of the Senate Mike Pence Ends.png Republican
Senate Majority Leadership
President pro tempore Orrin Hatch Ends.png Republican
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Ends.png Republican
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn Ends.png Republican
Senate Minority Leadership
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Electiondot.png Democratic
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin Electiondot.png Democratic

Firm of Representatives

Position Representative Party
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan Ends.png Republican
House Majority Leadership
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy Ends.png Republican
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise Ends.png Republican
House Minority Leadership
Firm Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Electiondot.png Democratic
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer Electiondot.png Democratic

Members

Come across also: List of current members of the U.Due south. Congress

Partisan balance

U.S. Senate Partisan Breakup
Political party Every bit of November 5, 2018 Afterward the 2018 Election
Democratic Party 47 45
Republican Political party 51 53
Contained 2 ii
Vacancies 0 0
Full 100 100
U.S. Firm Partisan Breakdown
Political party As of November 5, 2018 Later the 2018 Ballot
Democratic Party 193 235
Republican Party 235 200[1]
Vacancies seven 0
Total 435 435

Wave elections (1918-2016)

Ballotpedia-Wave Election Analysis Banner.png

See also: Wave elections (1918-2016)

The term wave election is frequently used to describe an election cycle in which one party makes significant balloter gains. How many seats would Republicans accept had to lose for the 2018 midterm election to be considered a moving ridge ballot?

Ballotpedia examined the results of the l election cycles that occurred betwixt 1918 and 2016—spanning from President Woodrow Wilson's (D) second midterm in 1918 to Donald Trump's (R) first presidential ballot in 2016. We define wave elections equally the 20 percent of elections in that period resulting in the greatest seat swings against the president's party.

Applying this definition to 4 different election groups (U.S. Senate, U.Due south. Firm, governorships, and state legislatures) yields specific numbers of seats that Republicans needed to lose for 2018 to authorize every bit a wave election. Those are:

  • 48 U.Due south. House seats,
  • Seven U.S. Senate seats,
  • 7 gubernatorial seats, or
  • 494 state legislative seats.

The midterm ballot results in 2018 met those levels in 1 category, as Democrats gained seven governorships. In congressional elections, Democrats had a internet gain of 40 U.Due south. Firm seats while Republicans actually gained a net total of two U.Due south. Senate seats. Democrats gained a net 309 country legislative seats.

Click hither to read the full report.

Special elections

See besides: Special elections to the 115th United States Congress (2017-2018)

Special elections made up the majority of Ballotpedia'due south congressional election coverage in 2017. Special elections to Congress occur when a legislator resigns or is removed from office. Depending on the specific state laws governing vacancies, a state tin can either agree an election within the same calendar year or wait until the next regularly scheduled ballot. In a presidential ballot year, such every bit 2016, information technology is normal for more than special elections to take place for members of Congress chosen for Cabinet positions.

The table below lists special elections to the 115th U.s. Congress.

District Prior Incumbent Primary Date Full general Election Candidates Election Date Winner Partisan Switch?
Michigan's 13th John Conyers Jr. Baronial 7, 2018 Democratic Party Brenda Jones
Republican Party No Republican filed
Nov 6, 2018 Democratic Party Brenda Jones No
New York's 25th Louise Slaughter - Democratic Party Joseph Morelle
Republican Party James Maxwell
November 6, 2018 Democratic Party Joseph Morelle No
Pennsylvania'due south 7th Patrick Meehan - Democratic Party Mary Gay Scanlon
Republican Party Pearl Kim
Nov vi, 2018 Democratic Party Mary Gay Scanlon Yes
Pennsylvania's 15th Charlie Paring - Democratic Party Susan Wild
Republican Party Marty Nothstein
November 6, 2018 Democratic Party Susan Wild Yes
Due south Carolina'due south 5th Mick Mulvaney May 2, 2017 Democratic Party Archie Parnell
Republican Party Ralph Norman
Independent Five other candidates
June 20, 2017 Republican Party Ralph Norman No
U.S. Senator from Alabama Jeff Sessions August 15, 2017 Republican Party Roy Moore
Democratic Party Doug Jones
Grey.png Arlester McBride
December 12, 2017 Democratic Party Doug Jones Yes
Utah's 3rd Jason Chaffetz August 15, 2017 Republican Party John Curtis
Democratic Party Kathie Allen
Libertarian Party Joe Buchman
Independent_American_Party Jason Christensen
Independent Sean Whalen
Independent Jim Bennett
Nov vii, 2017 Republican Party John Curtis No
Pennsylvania's 18th Tim Murphy Due north/A Democratic Party Conor Lamb
Republican Party Rick Saccone
March 13, 2018 Democratic Party Conor Lamb Yes
Georgia'south 6th Tom Cost April 18, 2017[2] Democratic Party Jon Ossoff
Republican Party Karen Handel
June 20, 2017[iii] Republican Party Karen Handel No
Arizona'southward eighth Trent Franks February 27, 2018 Democratic Party Hiral Tipirneni
Republican Party Debbie Lesko
April 24, 2018 Republican Party Debbie Lesko No
Montana'due south At-Large Ryan Zinke N/A Republican Party Greg Gianforte
Democratic Party Rob Quist
Libertarian Party Marking Wicks
May 25, 2017 Republican Party Greg Gianforte No
U.S. Senator from Minnesota Al Franken August fourteen, 2018 Democratic Party Tina Smith
Republican Party Karin Housley
Grey.png Jerry Trooien
* Sarah Wellington
November 6, 2018 Democratic Party Tina Smith No
U.Southward. Senator from Mississippi Thad Cochran June v, 2018 Pending November 6, 2018 Republican Party Cindy Hyde-Smith No
Texas' 27th Blake Farenthold N/A Democratic Party Raul (Roy) Barrera
Democratic Party Eric Holguin
Democratic Party Mike Westergren
Republican Party Bech Bruun
Republican Party Michael Cloud
Republican Party Marty Perez
Libertarian Party Daniel Tinus
Grey.png Judith Cutright
Grey.png Chris Suprun
June 30, 2018 Republican Party Michael Deject No
Ohio's 12th Patrick Tiberi May 8, 2018 Democratic Party Danny O'Connor
Republican Party Troy Balderson

Green Party

Joe Manchik
Grey.png Jonathan Veley
Baronial seven, 2018 Republican Party Troy Balderson No
California'southward 34th Xavier Becerra April 4, 2017 Democratic Party Robert Lee Ahn
Democratic Party Jimmy Gomez
June 6, 2017 Democratic Party Jimmy Gomez No
Kansas' quaternary Mike Pompeo N/A Republican Party Ron Estes
Democratic Party Jim Thompson
Libertarian Party Chris Rockhold
April 11, 2017 Republican Party Ron Estes No

On the bug

Throughout the class of the 115th Congress, we curated statements and reactions by members of Congress on a diversity of different policy areas and topics. Click on a tile beneath to read about what members of the 115th Congress said about the following issues.

Central votes

See besides: Key votes: 115th Congress, 2017-2018

Members of the 115th United States Congress introduced 13,556 pieces of legislation, and 867 of those received a vote. Ballotpedia identified 79 of those votes as fundamental votes—votes that helped citizens understand where their legislators stood on major policy issues.[4]

Congressional committees

U.South. Senate

Congressional committees (Senate)

Page:
U.s. Senate Committee on Armed forces
The states Senate Committee on Ideals (Select)
United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Diet, and Forestry
Us Senate Committee on Indian Diplomacy
United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Us Senate Committee on Aging (Special)
United States Senate Committee on Cyberbanking, Housing, and Urban Diplomacy
United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
U.s. Senate Committee on Free energy and Natural Resources
United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
United states Senate Committee on Rules and Assistants
United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
United states Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
United states of america Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
Usa Senate Committee on Intelligence (Select)
United states of america Senate Commission on Budget
United States Senate Commission on Finance
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary

U.S. Firm

Congressional committees (House)

Page:
United states Firm of Representatives Commission on Strange Affairs
Usa Firm of Representatives Committee on Business firm Administration
United states House of Representatives Committee on Instruction and the Workforce
U.s.a. Firm of Representatives Committee on Judiciary
Usa House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources
United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce
United states House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services
U.s. Firm of Representatives Committee on Appropriations
United States House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services
United States Business firm of Representatives Committee on Ethics
United States House of Representatives Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select)
U.s. House of Representatives Commission on Small Business
United States House of Representatives Commission on Oversight and Government Reform
The states House of Representatives Commission on Agriculture
United States House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security
Us Firm of Representatives Committee on Rules
United States House of Representatives Commission on Ways and Means
United States Firm of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
U.s. House of Representatives Commission on Budget
United States House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
United States House of Representatives Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Joint committees

Congressional committees (Articulation)

Page:
The states Congress Joint Committee on Printing
Usa Congress Joint Committee on the Library
United States Congress Joint Economic Committee
United States Congress Joint Committee on Tax

Supreme Courtroom vacancy

See also: Nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court and Resignation of Anthony Kennedy from the U.Due south. Supreme Court

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announced he was bold senior status on the court on June 27, 2018. President Trump followed by nominating Brett Kavanaugh to fill the vacancy on July 9, 2018. The Senate voted 50-48-1 to confirm Kavanaugh every bit the 114th acquaintance justice of the Supreme Court on October half-dozen, 2018. Click here for more coverage.

Confirmation process

See also: Confirmation process overview for Donald Trump'southward Cabinet nominees

The 115th Congress was tasked with confirming President Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees. Before a presidential Cabinet nominee could be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, he or she was required to pass several rounds of investigation and review, starting time with the submission of a personal financial disclosure study and a groundwork bank check. The nominee was and then evaluated in a committee hearing, which immune for a shut examination of the nominee and his or her views on public policy. Supporters and opponents of the nominee were likewise able to testify.[5] Following the closing of committee hearings, most committees had a set amount of time before a vote was taken on whether the nominee was reported to the Senate favorably, unfavorably, or without recommendation.[5]

Assay

Switching chambers

At the get-go of the 115th Congress, fifty of the 100 members of the U.Due south. Senate had previously served in the U.S. Business firm of Representatives. This included 27 of 52 Senate Republicans, 22 of 46 Senate Democrats, and one of the two independents who caucused with the Democrats.

Salary

Equally of 2022, members of Congress are paid $174,000 per year. Senate majority and minority leaders, also as the president pro tempore, receive $193,400. The speaker of the House receives $223,500.[6]

Some historical facts near the salary of United States Congress members:

  • In 1789, members of Congress received a $half-dozen per diem.[half-dozen]
  • In 1874, members of Congress earned $v,000 per twelvemonth.[6]
  • In 1990, members of Congress earned $98,400 per year.[6]
  • From 2000-2006, the bacon of a member of the United states of america Congress increased every year, going from $141,300 to $165,200 in that time span.[6]

Demographics

The 115th Congress surpassed the 114th Congress as the nigh diverse Congress in the nation's history.

There were three black, four Hispanic, and iii Asian senators. There were also 21 women and one openly LGBTQ member of the Senate. Overall, 26 percentage of the Senate was fabricated up of women or minorities, and the remaining 74 percent was white men. There were 94 racial or ethnic minorities in the House and 83 women, also as six openly LGBTQ members. Overall, 34 pct of the Firm was fabricated up of women or minorities, and the remaining 66 percent was white men.[7]

Over 90 percent of Congress identified as Christians, while roughly six percent of members were Jewish. There were as well three Buddhists, three Hindus, ii Muslims, and ane Unitarian Universalist. One member of Congress, Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-9), described herself as unaffiliated with any religion.[8]

See also

  • United States Congress elections, 2016
  • United States Senate elections, 2016
  • Usa House of Representatives elections, 2016
  • 114th United States Congress
  • Results of U.S. House elections in presidential ballot years, 1920-2020
  • U.s. Congress
  • United states Senate
  • United States Business firm of Representatives

Footnotes

  1. I undecided 2018 race was decided in September 2019 when Dan Bishop (R) won the special ballot. The land lath of elections called a new ballot following allegations of absentee ballot fraud in the 2018 race. Unofficial returns from the 2018 election showed Mark Harris (R) leading McCready, who was also the Democratic candidate in 2018, by 905 votes. Harris said he did not run again in 2019 due to health issues. Click here for more information on the aftermath of the 2018 election.
  2. While technically a general election, the Apr xviii ballot was functionally a top-two principal because no candidate received the 50 percent of the vote required to win the race outright.
  3. June 20, 2017, runoff election between Republican Karen Handel and Democrat Jon Ossoff.
  4. GovTrack, "Statistics and Historical Comparison," accessed March 12, 2019
  5. 5.0 5.1 CRS Study for Congress, "Senate Confirmation Process: An Overview," accessed July 24, 2013
  6. vi.0 6.one 6.2 half dozen.3 6.4 U.South. Senate, "Salaries," accessed May 29, 2012
  7. Daily KOS, "Check out our comprehensive 115th Congress guide, with election information, demographics, and fellow member stats," Jan 3, 2017
  8. U.S. News, "The 115th Congress by Party, Race, Gender and Religion," Jan 5, 2017