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United States Senate
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Senate Leadership


  
 
 
photo of Richard  Cheney President of the Senate
Richard Cheney
U.S. Vice President
photo of Robert C. Byrd President Pro Tempore
Robert C. Byrd
Democrat, West Virginia
photo of 
Majority Leader Harry Reid Majority Leader
Harry Reid
Democrat, Nevada
photo of Assistant Majority
Leader Richard Durbin Assistant Majority Leader
(Democratic Whip)
Richard Durbin
Democrat, Illinois
photo of
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Minority Leader
Mitch McConnell
Republican, Kentucky
photo of Assistant Minority
Leader Jon Kyl Assistant Minority Leader
(Republican Whip)
Jon Kyl
Republican, Arizona

Additional Party Leadership Positions

Additional Leadership Information

Officers and Staff of the Senate
 
Floor Leader Responsibilities
The "offices" of the majority and the minority leader, as we know them today, are of recent development in the history of the Senate although individual Senators since 1789 have assumed leading roles in the determination of what the Senate would or would not do. Some of these Senators, at one time or another, have stood high in the ranks of their respective political parties. The power or influence of some Senators, in various periods of our history, to guide or lead their respective parties, or even the Senate itself, in the determination of a legislative program, has been particularly noteworthy. Caucuses of Senators of a particular party, of a common interest, of a geographical area, or of some "blocs" have been called from time to time from the beginning of the first Senate for all kind of purposes, including the determination of the position to be taken on certain proposed legislation, or such things as to determine the names and sizes of the committees. These meetings, however, were not invoked to perform as organized political caucuses for the purpose of selecting persons to serve as floor leaders for the parties during the sessions of the Senate until the latter part of the 19th century.

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Organizational Chart

Not your typical organizational chart, this interactive chart, in the site's Reference section, is not hierarchical in nature.  It shows the Senate's relationship to other branches of the Federal government and provides a quick view of Senate  leadership, officers, and committee chairs.

 
  

Senators serve six-year terms.  When does the term of a Senator begin and when does it end?  Learn more about a Senator's term of service in this Senate document.


Senators, Vice Presidents and Presidents share their insights into Senate history.


Information about any senator, representative, vice president, or member of the Continental Congress.