The House Democratic Caucus is a congressional caucus composed of all Democratic representatives in the United States House of Representatives, voting and non-voting,[1] and is responsible for nominating and electing the Democratic Party leadership in the chamber. In its roles as a party conference, the caucus writes and enforces rules of conduct and discipline for its members, approves committee assignments, and serves as the primary forum for development of party policy and legislative priorities. It hosts weekly meetings for these purposes and to communicate the party's message to members.
House Democratic Caucus | |
---|---|
Part of | United States House of Representatives |
Floor Leader | Hakeem Jeffries (NY) |
Floor Whip | Katherine Clark (MA) |
Chair | Pete Aguilar (CA) |
Ideology | Modern liberalism |
Political position | Center-left |
Affiliation | Democratic Party |
Colors | Blue |
Seats | 213 / 435 |
Website | |
dems | |
When the caucus holds the majority of seats, it is usually led by the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives who is assisted on the floor by the House majority leader and the party's chief whip. When in the minority, it is led by the House minority leader, assisted by the chief whip. The caucus has a Caucus chairman and Caucus vice-chair (formerly called the secretary). For the 118th Congress, Hakeem Jeffries was elected as the minority leader, Katherine Clark became the minority whip and Pete Aguilar was chosen as the Caucus chairman.
Current hierarchy
editEffective with the start of the 118th Congress, the chain of command conference leadership is as follows (from highest to lowest):
- Hakeem Jeffries (NY) as House Minority Leader (Caucus Leader)
- Katherine Clark (MA) as House Minority Whip
- Pete Aguilar (CA) as Caucus Chairman
- Ted Lieu (CA) as Caucus Vice Chair
Leadership history
editThe House Democratic Caucus, through its institutional antecedent, the Democratic-Republican caucus, was established on April 2, 1796, to stop a treaty with Great Britain which unfairly treated American sailors. For many years, through 1820, it nominated presidential candidates (before the era of national nominating conventions).
Since 2023, the House Democratic leader has been Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York (the first African-American congressional party leader in U.S. history).[2] He was elected to succeed longtime Democratic leader and the first woman speaker of the House in U.S. history Nancy Pelosi.
At the Organizational Meeting on November 18, 2008, of the Democratic Caucus for the 111th Congress, Representative John B. Larson (D-Connecticut) was elected Caucus chairman by acclamation. The election was presided over by the outgoing chairman of the Democratic Caucus for the 110th Congress, former representative Rahm Emanuel (D-Illinois). Rep. Larson officially assumed the position of chairman on the first day of the 111th Congress, January 3, 2009.
After his election as chairman at the Organizational Meeting on November 18, Chairman Larson presided over the election of Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-California), who defeated Representative Marcy Kaptur of Ohio by a vote count of 175 to 67. Rep. Becerra likewise assumed his vice-chairmanship on January 3.
Leaders of the House Democratic Caucus
editCongress | Leader | District | Took office | Left office | House Speaker | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
20th | Andrew Stevenson (1784–1857) |
Virginia 9 | December 3, 1827 | June 2, 1834[a] | Himself 1827–1834 | ||
21st | |||||||
22nd | |||||||
23rd | Virginia 11 | ||||||
23rd | John Bell (1796–1869) |
Tennessee 7 | June 2, 1834 | March 4, 1835 | Himself 1834–1835 | ||
24th | James K. Polk (1795–1849) |
Tennessee 9 | December 7, 1835 | March 4, 1839 | Himself 1835–1839 | ||
25th | |||||||
26th | Unknown[b] | Hunter 1839–1841 | |||||
27th | Unknown[b] | White 1841–1843 | |||||
28th | John Winston Jones (1791–1848) |
Virginia 6 | December 4, 1843 | March 4, 1845 | Himself 1843–1845 | ||
29th | John Wesley Davis (1799–1859) |
Indiana 6 | December 1, 1845 | March 4, 1847 | Himself 1845–1847 | ||
30th | Unknown[b] | Winthrop 1847–1849 | |||||
31st | Howell Cobb (1815–1868) |
Georgia 6 | December 22, 1849 | March 4, 1851 | Himself 1849–1851 | ||
32nd | Linn Boyd (1800–1859) |
Kentucky 1 | December 1, 1851 | March 4, 1855 | Himself 1851–1855 | ||
33rd | |||||||
34th | George Washington Jones (1806–1884) |
Tennessee 6 | March 4, 1855 | March 4, 1857 | Banks 1856–1857 | ||
35th | James Lawrence Orr (1822–1873) |
South Carolina 5 | December 7, 1857 | March 3, 1859 | Himself 1857–1859 | ||
36th | George S. Houston (1811–1879) |
Alabama 5 | March 4, 1859 | January 21, 1861[c] | Pennington 1860–1861 | ||
37th | Unknown[d] | Grow 1861–1863 | |||||
38th | Unknown[d] | Colfax 1863–1869 | |||||
39th | Unknown[d] | ||||||
40th | Unknown[d] | ||||||
40th | Pomeroy 1869 | ||||||
41st | Samuel J. Randall (1828–1890) |
Pennsylvania 1 | March 4, 1869 | March 3, 1871 | Blaine 1869–1875 | ||
William E. Niblack (1822–1893) |
Indiana 1 | ||||||
42nd | Unknown[b] | ||||||
43rd | William E. Niblack (1822–1893) |
Indiana 1 | March 4, 1873 | March 3, 1875 | |||
44th | Michael C. Kerr (1827–1876) |
Indiana 3 | December 6, 1875 | August 19, 1876[e] | Himself 1875–1876 | ||
44th | Samuel J. Randall (1828–1890) |
Pennsylvania 3 | December 4, 1876 | March 3, 1881 | Himself 1876–1881 | ||
45th | |||||||
46th | |||||||
47th | Unknown[b] | Keifer 1881–1883 | |||||
48th | John G. Carlisle (1834–1910) |
Kentucky 6 | December 3, 1883 | March 3, 1889 | Himself 1883–1889 | ||
49th | |||||||
50th | |||||||
51st | William S. Holman (1822–1897) |
Indiana 4 | March 4, 1889 | March 3, 1891 | Reed 1889–1891 | ||
52nd | Charles Frederick Crisp (1845–1896) |
Georgia 3 | December 8, 1891 | March 3, 1895 | Himself 1891–1895 | ||
53rd | |||||||
54th | David B. Culberson (1830–1900) |
Texas 4 | March 4, 1895 | March 3, 1897 | Reed 1895–1899 | ||
55th | James D. Richardson (1843–1914) |
Tennessee 5 | March 4, 1897 | March 3, 1903 | |||
56th | Henderson 1899–1903 | ||||||
57th | |||||||
58th | John Sharp Williams (1854–1932) |
Mississippi 8 | March 4, 1903 | March 3, 1909 | Cannon 1903–1911 | ||
59th | |||||||
60th | |||||||
61st | Champ Clark (1850–1921) |
Missouri 9 | March 4, 1909 | March 2, 1921[e] | |||
62nd | Himself 1911–1919 | ||||||
63rd | |||||||
64th | |||||||
65th | |||||||
66th | Gillett 1919–1925 | ||||||
67th | Claude Kitchin (1869–1923) |
North Carolina 2 | March 4, 1921 | March 4, 1923 | |||
68th | Finis J. Garrett (1875–1956) |
Tennessee 9 | March 4, 1923 | March 3, 1929 | |||
69th | Longworth 1925–1931 | ||||||
70th | |||||||
71st | John Nance Garner (1868–1967) |
Texas 15 | March 4, 1929 | March 3, 1933[f] | |||
72nd | Himself 1931–1933 | ||||||
73rd | Henry Thomas Rainey (1860–1934) |
Illinois 20 | March 9, 1933 | August 19, 1934[e] | Himself 1933–1934 | ||
74th | Jo Byrns (1869–1936) |
Tennessee 5 | January 3, 1935 | June 4, 1936[e] | Himself 1935–1936 | ||
74th | William B. Bankhead (1874–1940) |
Alabama 7 | June 4, 1936 | September 15, 1940[e] | Himself 1936–1940 | ||
75th | |||||||
76th | |||||||
76th | Sam Rayburn (1882–1961) |
Texas 4 | September 16, 1940 | November 16, 1961[e] | Himself 1940–1947 | ||
77th | |||||||
78th | |||||||
79th | |||||||
80th | Martin 1947–1949 | ||||||
81st | Himself 1949–1953 | ||||||
82nd | |||||||
83rd | Martin 1953–1955 | ||||||
84th | Himself 1955–1961 | ||||||
85th | |||||||
86th | |||||||
87th | |||||||
87th | John W. McCormack (1891–1980) |
Massachusetts 12 | January 10, 1962 | January 3, 1971 | Himself 1962–1971 | ||
88th | Massachusetts 9 | ||||||
89th | |||||||
90th | |||||||
91st | |||||||
92nd | Carl Albert (1908–2000) |
Oklahoma 3 | January 21, 1971 | January 3, 1977 | Himself 1971–1977 | ||
93rd | |||||||
94th | |||||||
95th | Tip O'Neill (1912–1994) |
Massachusetts 8 | January 4, 1977 | January 3, 1987 | Himself 1977–1987 | ||
96th | |||||||
97th | |||||||
98th | |||||||
99th | |||||||
100th | Jim Wright (1922–2015) |
Texas 12 | January 6, 1987 | June 6, 1989[a] | Himself 1987–1989 | ||
101st | |||||||
101st | Tom Foley (1929–2013) |
Washington 5 | June 6, 1989 | January 3, 1995 | Himself 1989–1995 | ||
102nd | |||||||
103rd | |||||||
104th | Dick Gephardt (born 1941) |
Missouri 3 | January 3, 1995 | January 3, 2003 | Gingrich 1995–1999 | ||
105th | |||||||
106th | Hastert 1999–2007 | ||||||
107th | |||||||
108th | Nancy Pelosi (born 1940) |
California 8 | January 3, 2003 | January 3, 2023 | |||
109th | |||||||
110th | Herself 2007–2011 | ||||||
111th | |||||||
112th | Boehner 2011–2015 | ||||||
113th | California 12 | ||||||
114th | |||||||
Ryan 2015–2019 | |||||||
115th | |||||||
116th | Herself 2019–2023 | ||||||
117th | |||||||
118th | Hakeem Jeffries (born 1970) |
New York 8 | January 3, 2023 | Incumbent | McCarthy 2023 | ||
McHenry[g] 2023 | |||||||
Johnson 2023–present |
Notes
edit- ^ a b Resigned from office and from Congress.
- ^ a b c d e Whoever held this office during this Congress is unknown.
- ^ Alabama seceded from the Union on January 11, 1861, and Houston withdrew from Congress ten days later on January 21.
- ^ a b c d Whoever held this office during this Congress is unknown, although it was likely vacant due to the American Civil War.
- ^ a b c d e f Died in office.
- ^ Resigned to become Vice President of the United States.
- ^ This person served as speaker pro tempore.
List of chairs
editChairs are currently limited to two consecutive terms.
List of vice-chairs
editThe vice-chair of the Democratic Caucus ranks just below the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. In addition to other duties, the vice-chair has a seat on the Steering and Policy Committee.[17]
- Mary Rose Oakar (1987–1989)[18]
- Steny Hoyer (1989)[19]
- Vic Fazio (1989–1995)
- Barbara B. Kennelly (1995–1999)
- Bob Menendez (1999–2003)
- Jim Clyburn (2003–2006)
- John B. Larson (2006–2009)
- Xavier Becerra (2009–2012)
- Joe Crowley (2012–2017)
- Linda Sánchez (2017–2019)
- Katherine Clark (2019–2021)
- Pete Aguilar (2021–2023)
- Ted Lieu (2023–present)
List of secretaries
editThe office of secretary of the Democratic Caucus preceded the office of vice-chair. Until its elimination in 1987, the office of secretary was reserved for a female member of the House.[20]
- Chase G. Woodhouse (1949–1951)
- Edna F. Kelly (1953–1957, 1964–1965)
- Leonor K. Sullivan (1959–1964, 1965–1975)
- Patsy Mink (1975–1977)
- Shirley Chisholm (1977–1981)
- Geraldine Ferraro (1981–1985)
- Mary Rose Oakar (1985–1987)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Rules of the Democratic Caucus". House Democrats. p. 5. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
Rule 1. Caucus Membership A. All Members of the House of Representatives, the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, and the Delegates from American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands who are Members of the Democratic Party shall be prima facie Members of the Democratic Caucus of the House of Representatives.
- ^ Mizelle, Shawna (January 4, 2023). "Hakeem Jeffries to make history as the first Black lawmaker to lead a party in Congress | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ No clear records remain for this Congress.
- ^ No clear records remain for this Congress.
- ^ No clear records remain for these Congresses.
- ^ Caucus records show Representative Niblack and Representative Randall as both having served as chairman during the Congress, but no dates of service were specified.
- ^ Representative Fernando Wood of New York nominated the Democratic leadership slate in the House, but there is no other evidence to show he was elected caucus chairman.
- ^ Available data show that Representative John F. House nominated Samuel J. Randall as the Democratic candidate for Speaker, the traditional role of the caucus chairman. Later data show W.S. Rosecrans issuing the next call for a Democratic Caucus meeting, but there is no evidence to suggest that Rosecrans was actually elected caucus chairman.
- ^ Former Parliamentarian Clarence Cannon's notes state "Cox died during this Congress and [Representative James B.] McCreary evidently succeeded or acted for him." However, Representative Cox died on September 10, 1889, six months after the sine die adjournment of the 50th Congress and the convening of the 51st Congress.
- ^ Caucus records are contradictory for this period. They show the election of Representative James Hay as chairman on January 19, 1911, but do not mention a resignation by incumbent chairman Clayton, nor do they specify that Hay was elected chairman for the new Congress. Later, they show the election of Representative Albert S. Burleson on April 11, 1911.
- ^ Resigned from the House, October 5, 1930; there is no record of an election to fill the vacancy as caucus chair.
- ^ Resigned following election as majority (floor) leader, September 16, 1940; records do not indicate that a successor was chosen during the remainder of the Congress.
- ^ Died in office, May 31, 1963. Caucus chairman post vacant until January 21, 1964.
- ^ Representative Hoyer was elected Caucus Chairman on June 21, 1989, following the June 14, 1989, election of Representative William (Bill) H. Gray III as Majority Whip.
- ^ On January 16, 2006, Representative Menendez resigned from the House after he was appointed to the Senate.
- ^ "Hakeem Jeffries defeats Barbara Lee in battle for Dem Caucus chair". Politico. November 28, 2018.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2006. Retrieved December 21, 2006.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Center for American Women and Politics" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2008.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 4, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Congressional Women: On the Secretary position