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The 115th United States Congress was the 2017-2019 session of the legislative branch of the U.South. federal authorities, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The 115th Congress convened on January iii, 2017, and ended on January 3, 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 administration, click here.

Leadership

Senate

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

House of Representatives

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

Members

Come across as well: List of current members of the U.S. Congress

Partisan remainder

U.S. Senate Partisan Breakdown
Political party Equally of November 5, 2018 After the 2022 Election
Democratic Party 47 45
Republican Party 51 53
Contained 2 2
Vacancies 0 0
Total 100 100
U.S. House Partisan Breakup
Party As of November five, 2018 After the 2022 Election
Democratic Political party 193 235
Republican Party 235 200[1]
Vacancies 7 0
Total 435 435

Wave elections (1918-2016)

Ballotpedia-Wave Election Analysis Banner.png

See besides: Wave elections (1918-2016)

The term wave election is oft used to draw an election bicycle in which ane political party makes meaning electoral gains. How many seats would Republicans have had to lose for the 2022 midterm election to exist considered a wave election?

Ballotpedia examined the results of the fifty election cycles that occurred between 1918 and 2016—spanning from President Woodrow Wilson's (D) second midterm in 1918 to Donald Trump'due south (R) first presidential ballot in 2016. Nosotros define wave elections as the xx percent of elections in that period resulting in the greatest seat swings against the president's party.

Applying this definition to four different election groups (U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governorships, and country legislatures) yields specific numbers of seats that Republicans needed to lose for 2022 to authorize as a moving ridge election. Those are:

  • 48 U.Southward. House seats,
  • Seven U.S. Senate seats,
  • Seven gubernatorial seats, or
  • 494 country legislative seats.

The midterm election results in 2022 met those levels in one category, as Democrats gained seven governorships. In congressional elections, Democrats had a internet gain of 40 U.South. House seats while Republicans really gained a net total of two U.S. Senate seats. Democrats gained a cyberspace 309 state legislative seats.

Click hither to read the total report.

Special elections

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

Special elections made up the bulk of Ballotpedia's congressional ballot coverage in 2017. Special elections to Congress occur when a legislator resigns or is removed from office. Depending on the specific land laws governing vacancies, a state can either hold an ballot within the same agenda yr or wait until the adjacent regularly scheduled election. In a presidential election yr, such as 2016, it is normal for more special elections to take place for members of Congress chosen for Cabinet positions.

The table beneath lists special elections to the 115th United States Congress.

District Prior Incumbent Principal Date General Ballot Candidates Ballot Appointment Winner Partisan Switch?
Michigan's 13th John Conyers Jr. August 7, 2018 Democratic Party Brenda Jones
Republican Party No Republican filed
November six, 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's seventh Patrick Meehan - Democratic Party Mary Gay Scanlon
Republican Party Pearl Kim
November half dozen, 2018 Democratic Party Mary Gay Scanlon Aye
Pennsylvania's 15th Charlie Paring - Democratic Party Susan Wild
Republican Party Marty Nothstein
November vi, 2018 Democratic Party Susan Wild Yes
Due south Carolina'southward fifth 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.Due south. 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 Yeah
Utah'due south third 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
November 7, 2017 Republican Party John Curtis No
Pennsylvania's 18th Tim Murphy N/A Democratic Party Conor Lamb
Republican Party Rick Saccone
March xiii, 2018 Democratic Party Conor Lamb Yes
Georgia's 6th Tom Toll April 18, 2017[two] Democratic Party Jon Ossoff
Republican Party Karen Handel
June 20, 2017[3] Republican Party Karen Handel No
Arizona's 8th Trent Franks Feb 27, 2018 Democratic Party Hiral Tipirneni
Republican Party Debbie Lesko
April 24, 2018 Republican Party Debbie Lesko No
Montana's At-Large Ryan Zinke N/A Republican Party Greg Gianforte
Democratic Party Rob Quist
Libertarian Party Mark Wicks
May 25, 2017 Republican Party Greg Gianforte No
U.Due south. Senator from Minnesota Al Franken Baronial 14, 2018 Democratic Party Tina Smith
Republican Party Karin Housley
Grey.png Jerry Trooien
* Sarah Wellington
Nov 6, 2018 Democratic Party Tina Smith No
U.Southward. Senator from Mississippi Thad Cochran June five, 2018 Pending Nov 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 xxx, 2018 Republican Party Michael Cloud No
Ohio'south twelfth Patrick Tiberi May 8, 2018 Democratic Party Danny O'Connor
Republican Party Troy Balderson

Green Party

Joe Manchik
Grey.png Jonathan Veley
Baronial 7, 2018 Republican Party Troy Balderson No
California's 34th Xavier Becerra April iv, 2017 Democratic Party Robert Lee Ahn
Democratic Party Jimmy Gomez
June 6, 2017 Democratic Party Jimmy Gomez No
Kansas' fourth Mike Pompeo N/A Republican Party Ron Estes
Democratic Party Jim Thompson
Libertarian Party Chris Rockhold
Apr 11, 2017 Republican Party Ron Estes No

On the issues

Throughout the course of the 115th Congress, we curated statements and reactions by members of Congress on a diverseness of different policy areas and topics. Click on a tile below to read about what members of the 115th Congress said about the post-obit problems.

Key votes

See too: Fundamental votes: 115th Congress, 2017-2018

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

Congressional committees

U.South. Senate

Congressional committees (Senate)

Page:
U.s.a. Senate Committee on Armed Services
United States Senate Committee on Ethics (Select)
Us Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
United States Senate Commission on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Usa Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
United States Senate Committee on Aging (Special)
Usa Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Diplomacy
United states of america Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
U.s.a. Senate Committee on 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 Strange Relations
Us Senate Commission on Wellness, Pedagogy, Labor, and Pensions
United States Senate Commission on Environment and Public Works
United States Senate Commission on Intelligence (Select)
Usa Senate Committee on Upkeep
U.s. Senate Commission on Finance
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary

U.S. Firm

Congressional committees (House)

Page:
U.s.a. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs
United States House of Representatives Committee on House Administration
United States House of Representatives Commission on Education and the Workforce
United States House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary
U.s. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources
United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce
United States House of Representatives Committee on Fiscal Services
United States Business firm of Representatives Committee on Appropriations
Usa Business firm 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)
Us Firm of Representatives Committee on Small Business concern
U.s.a. Firm of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
United States House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture
United States House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security
U.s. House of Representatives Commission on Rules
United states Business firm of Representatives Committee on Ways and Ways
United States House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Us Business firm of Representatives Committee on Budget
United States Business firm of Representatives Committee on Science, Infinite, and Technology
United states of america House of Representatives Committee on Veterans' Diplomacy

Joint committees

Congressional committees (Joint)

Page:
United States Congress Joint Committee on Printing
Us Congress Articulation Committee on the Library
United states of america Congress Articulation Economical Committee
United States Congress Joint Commission on Taxation

Supreme Courtroom vacancy

Meet as well: Nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court and Resignation of Anthony Kennedy from the U.South. Supreme Court

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announced he was assuming senior condition on the court on June 27, 2018. President Trump followed by nominating Brett Kavanaugh to make full the vacancy on July 9, 2018. The Senate voted 50-48-1 to confirm Kavanaugh as the 114th associate justice of the Supreme Court on October 6, 2018. Click here for more coverage.

Confirmation process

Come across also: Confirmation process overview for Donald Trump's 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 laissez passer several rounds of investigation and review, outset with the submission of a personal financial disclosure written report and a background check. The nominee was then evaluated in a committee hearing, which allowed for a close test of the nominee and his or her views on public policy. Supporters and opponents of the nominee were also able to testify.[5] Following the closing of committee hearings, most committees had a fix amount of time earlier a vote was taken on whether the nominee was reported to the Senate favorably, unfavorably, or without recommendation.[5]

Analysis

Switching chambers

At the start of the 115th Congress, 50 of the 100 members of the U.Southward. Senate had previously served in the U.S. House 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

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

Some historical facts about the salary of U.s.a. Congress members:

  • In 1789, members of Congress received a $6 per diem.[6]
  • In 1874, members of Congress earned $5,000 per year.[6]
  • In 1990, members of Congress earned $98,400 per yr.[6]
  • From 2000-2006, the salary of a member of the Usa Congress increased every year, going from $141,300 to $165,200 in that fourth dimension bridge.[6]

Demographics

The 115th Congress surpassed the 114th Congress equally the nigh various Congress in the nation's history.

There were three blackness, iv Hispanic, and three Asian senators. There were too 21 women and one openly LGBTQ member of the Senate. Overall, 26 percent of the Senate was made upwardly of women or minorities, and the remaining 74 percent was white men. In that location were 94 racial or indigenous minorities in the House and 83 women, besides every bit six openly LGBTQ members. Overall, 34 per centum of the Business firm was fabricated upwardly of women or minorities, and the remaining 66 percent was white men.[vii]

Over ninety per centum of Congress identified as Christians, while roughly half dozen percent of members were Jewish. At that place were also 3 Buddhists, three Hindus, two Muslims, and i Unitarian Universalist. One member of Congress, Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-9), described herself as unaffiliated with any religion.[8]

See also

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

Footnotes

  1. One undecided 2022 race was decided in September 2022 when Dan Bishop (R) won the special election. The land board of elections chosen a new ballot following allegations of absentee ballot fraud in the 2022 race. Unofficial returns from the 2022 election showed Mark Harris (R) leading McCready, who was also the Democratic candidate in 2018, by 905 votes. Harris said he did non run again in 2022 due to health issues. Click hither for more data on the aftermath of the 2022 election.
  2. While technically a general election, the Apr xviii election was functionally a top-two master because no candidate received the 50 percentage of the vote required to win the race outright.
  3. June xx, 2017, runoff election between Republican Karen Handel and Democrat Jon Ossoff.
  4. GovTrack, "Statistics and Historical Comparing," accessed March 12, 2019
  5. 5.0 5.1 CRS Report for Congress, "Senate Confirmation Process: An Overview," accessed July 24, 2013
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 six.iii 6.4 U.S. Senate, "Salaries," accessed May 29, 2012
  7. Daily KOS, "Bank check out our comprehensive 115th Congress guide, with election data, demographics, and member stats," January three, 2017
  8. U.S. News, "The 115th Congress by Party, Race, Gender and Religion," January 5, 2017