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The 111th Congress: Seating Arrangements
January 06, 2009 11:10 AM
From ABC's Nancy Gabriner, who is a whiz on all things -- but certainly on matters pertaining to government, great and small.
Senators elected last November 4th will be sworn in today -- but where will they sit? The assignment of desks in the Senate Chamber is based on seniority and several fascinating traditions. This is the Senate Chamber Map for the last Congress (110th).
Looking at the map you see that departing Senators Ted Stevens and Pete Domenici vacate desks in the front off the center aisle. Departing Senators Hillary Clinton and Ken Salazar (pending confirmation) will vacate desks in the back row on the far left (near a door). Desks that will become available: Wayne Allard (R), Larry Craig (R), Pete Domenici (R), Chuck Hagel (R) and John Warner (R) -- all retired. Elizabeth Dole (R), John Sununu (R), Gordon Smith (R) and Ted Stevens (R) all lost bids for reelection.
Norm Coleman (R) may have lost bid for reelection. Barack Obama (D) and Joe Biden (D) got better jobs. Hillary Clinton (D) and Ken Salazar (D) have been appointed to President-elect Obama's Cabinet.
If you click on a desk in the Senate Chamber Map you see that since the beginning of the 20th Century it has been tradition for senators to sign the inside drawer of the desk. Click on desk 24 and you see the signature of Senator Barack Obama and also Senator Bill Bradley. Click on desk 83 and you see that Senator Ted Kennedy sits at the desk used by his brother Senator John F. Kennedy. At the start of each Congress the desks are rearranged between the two sides to reflect the number of Republicans and Democrats.
The last Senate had 51 Democrat desks (includes two Independents) and 49 Republican desks. Pending the final outcome of the Minnesota Senate Race the new Senate could have 59 Democrat desks (including two Independents) and 41 Republican desks. Senators are then given the opportunity to relocate based on seniority. Senators might choose to move desks to get a more desirable location, or to sit at a desk with a particular history.
The Senate Majority Leader and the Senate Minority Leader - Senator Harry Reid (D) and Senator Mitch McConnell (R) - sit in the front row on either side of the center aisle.
There are three desks that are assigned specifically to honor Senators of note: "Henry Clay Desk" is assigned to the senior senator from Kentucky (now Senator Mitch McConnell). "Jefferson Davis Desk" is assigned to the senior senator from Mississippi (now Senator Thad Cochran). "Daniel Webster Desk" is assigned to the senior senator from New Hampshire (now Senator Judd Gregg).
January 6, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (4)
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Now let's hope they can find their desks!!
Posted by: Lou | Jan 6, 2009 11:38:39 AM
Sitting behind desks like the little children they are.
Posted by: Grumpyoldman | Jan 6, 2009 12:31:38 PM
Was that a typo or did the writer of this piece really say "59 Democrat desks (including two Independents) and 41 Republican desks." (5th paragraph)
"Democrat" desks?
Is ABC taking talking points from the RNC now? Those are Democratic Party members and those are Democratic desks.
Posted by: chuck | Jan 6, 2009 3:45:21 PM
I hadn't heard about the Jefferson Davis desk--it sounds absurd 140 some years later that the President of the Confederacy is honored in this way! I hope that some day soon the senior Senator from Mississippi is an African American--now that would be poetic justice!
Posted by: michellegh | Jan 6, 2009 11:25:41 PM
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