How many Republicans and Democrats are in the Senate 117th Congress?

Senate: 50 Republicans, 48 Democrats, and 2 Independents, who both caucus with the Democrats.

Who is the ranking member?

In United States politics, a ranking member is the most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the minority party. On many committees the ranking minority member, along with the chairman, serve as ex officio members of all of the committee’s subcommittees.

How many black U.S. senators are there?

As of January 20, 2021, there have been 1,994 members of the United States Senate, of which 11 have been African American.

What is the party affiliation of a US Senator?

The United States Senate party membership by state. States with two Democratic U.S. Senators are in blue, states with two Republican U.S. Senators are in red, and those with one of each are in purple. States with an independent U.S. Senator are marked with green stripes on a blue or red background, depending on the party of the other U.S. Senator.

Who are the current assistant leaders in the Senate?

The current assistant leaders, or whips, are Senators Dick Durbin ( D) of Illinois and John Thune ( R) of South Dakota . Senate Democrats began the practice of electing their floor leaders in 1920 while they were in the minority.

Who is the presiding officer of the Senate in practice?

Since the Vice President may be of a different party than the majority and is not a member subject to discipline, the rules of procedure of the Senate give the presiding officer very little power and none beyond the presiding role. For these reasons, it is the Majority Leader who, in practice, manages the Senate.

Who are the current Senate leaders and whips?

The current leaders are Senators Chuck Schumer ( D) of New York and Mitch McConnell ( R) of Kentucky. The current assistant leaders, or whips, are Senators Dick Durbin ( D) of Illinois and John Thune ( R) of South Dakota .