Majority & Minority Leaders
(1899 to Present)
The House of Representatives, with its large membership, has chosen majority and minority leaders since the 19th century to expedite legislative business and to keep their parties united. These leaders are elected every two years in secret balloting of the party caucus or conference. A list of House majority and minority leaders from 1899 to present are available below.
The role of the majority leader has been defined by history and tradition. This officer is charged with scheduling legislation for floor consideration; planning the daily, weekly, and annual legislative agendas; consulting with Members to gauge party sentiment; and, in general, working to advance the goals of the majority party. Information on the current activities of the majority leader is available from The Office of the Majority Leader's web site.
The minority leader serves as floor leader of the "loyal opposition," and is the minority counterpart to the Speaker. Although many of the basic leadership responsibilities of the minority and majority leaders are similar, the minority leader speaks for minority party and its policies and works to protect the minority's rights. Information on the current activities of the minority leader is available from the The Office of the Minority Leader's web site.
Congress | Majority Leader | Minority Leader | Years of Service |
---|---|---|---|
56th | Sereno E. Payne (R-NY) | James D. Richardson (D-TN) | (1899-1901) |
57th | Sereno E. Payne (R-NY) | James D. Richardson (D-TN) | (1901-1903) |
58th | Sereno E. Payne (R-NY) | John Sharp Williams (D-MS) | (1903-1905) |
59th | Sereno E. Payne (R-NY) | John Sharp Williams (D-MS) | (1905-1907) |
60th | Sereno E. Payne (R-NY) | John Sharp Williams (D-MS) | (1907-1908) |
60th | Sereno E. Payne (R-NY) | James Beauchamp Clark (D-MO) | (1908-1909) |
61st | Sereno E. Payne (R-NY) | James Beauchamp Clark (D-MO) | (1909-1911) |
62nd | Oscar W. Underwood (D-AL) | James R. Mann (R-IL) | (1911-1913) |
63rd | Oscar W. Underwood (D-AL) | James R. Mann (R-IL) | (1913-1915) |
64th | Claude Kitchin (D-NC) | James R. Mann (R-IL) | (1915-1917) |
65th | Claude Kitchin (D-NC) | James R. Mann (R-IL) | (1917-1919) |
66th | Frank W. Mondell (R-WY) | James Beauchamp Clark (D-MO) | (1919-1921) |
67th | Frank W. Mondell (R-WY) | Claude Kitchin (D-NC) | (1921-1923) |
68th | Nicholas Longworth (R-OH) | Finis J. Garrett (D-TN) | (1923-1925) |
69th | John Q. Tilson (R-CT) | Finis J. Garrett (D-TN) | (1925-1927) |
70th | John Q. Tilson (R-CT) | Finis J. Garrett (D-TN) | (1927-1929) |
71st | John Q. Tilson (R-CT) | John N. Garner (D-TX) | (1929-1931) |
72nd | Henry T. Rainey (D-IL) | Bertrand H. Snell (R-NY) | (1931-1933) |
73rd | Joseph W. Byrns (D-TN) | Bertrand H. Snell (R-NY) | (1933-1935) |
74th | William B. Bankhead (D-AL) 1 | Bertrand H. Snell (R-NY) | (1935-1937) |
75th | Sam Rayburn (D-TX) | Bertrand H. Snell (R-NY) | (1937-1939) |
76th | Sam Rayburn (D-TX) 2 | Joseph W. Martin, Jr. (R-MA) | (1939-1940) |
76th | John W. McCormack (D-MA) 3 | Joseph W. Martin, Jr. (R-MA) | (1940-1941) |
77th | John W. McCormack (D-MA) | Joseph W. Martin, Jr. (R-MA) | (1941-1942) |
78th | John W. McCormack (D-MA) | Joseph W. Martin, Jr. (R-MA) | (1943-1945) |
79th | John W. McCormack (D-MA) | Joseph W. Martin, Jr. (R-MA) | (1945-1947) |
80th | Charles A. Halleck (R-IN) | Sam Rayburn (D-TX) | (1947-1949) |
81st | John W. McCormack (D-MA) | Joseph W. Martin, Jr. (R-MA) | (1949-1951) |
82nd | John W. McCormack (D-MA) | Joseph W. Martin, Jr. (R-MA) | (1951-1953) |
83rd | Charles A. Halleck (R-IN) | Sam Rayburn (D-TX) | (1953-1955) |
84th | John W. McCormack (D-MA) | Joseph W. Martin, Jr. (R-MA) | (1955-1957) |
85th | John W. McCormack (D-MA) | Joseph W. Martin, Jr. (R-MA) | (1957-1959) |
86th | John W. McCormack (D-MA) | Charles A. Halleck (R-IN) | (1959-1961) |
87th | John W. McCormack (D-MA) 4 | Charles A. Halleck (R-IN) | (1961-1962) |
87th | Carl B. Albert (D-OK) 5 | Charles A. Halleck (R-IN) | (1962-1963) |
88th | Carl B. Albert (D-OK) | Charles A. Halleck (R-IN) | (1963-1965) |
89th | Carl B. Albert (D-OK) | Gerald R. Ford (R-MI) | (1965-1967) |
90th | Carl B. Albert (D-OK) | Gerald R. Ford (R-MI) | (1967-1969) |
91st | Carl B. Albert (D-OK) | Gerald R. Ford (R-MI) | (1969-1971) |
92nd | Hale Boggs (D-LA) 6 | Gerald R. Ford (R-MI) | (1971-1973) |
93rd | Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. (D-MA) | Gerald R. Ford (R-MI) 7 | (1973) |
93rd | Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. (D-MA) | John J. Rhodes (R-AZ) | (1974-1975) |
94th | Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. (D-MA) | John J. Rhodes (R-AZ) | (1975-1977) |
95th | James C. Wright, Jr. (D-TX) | John J. Rhodes (R-AZ) | (1977-1979) |
96th | James C. Wright, Jr. (D-TX) | John J. Rhodes (R-AZ) | (1979-1981) |
97th | James C. Wright, Jr. (D-TX) | Robert H. Michel (R-IL) | (1981-1983) |
98th | James C. Wright, Jr. (D-TX) | Robert H. Michel (R-IL) | (1983-1985) |
99th | James C. Wright, Jr. (D-TX) | Robert H. Michel (R-IL) | (1985-1987) |
100th | Thomas S. Foley (D-WA) | Robert H. Michel (R-IL) | (1987-1989) |
101st | Thomas S. Foley (D-WA) 8 | Robert H. Michel (R-IL) | (1989-1990) |
101st | Richard A. Gephardt (D-MO) 9 | Robert H. Michel (R-IL) | (1989-1991) |
102nd | Richard A. Gephardt (D-MO) | Robert H. Michel (R-IL) | (1991-1993) |
103rd | Richard A. Gephardt (D-MO) | Robert H. Michel (R-IL) | (1993-1995) |
104th | Richard K. Armey (R-TX) | Richard A. Gephardt (D-MO) | (1995-1997) |
105th | Richard K. Armey (R-TX) | Richard A. Gephardt (D-MO) | (1997-1999) |
106th | Richard K. Armey (R-TX) | Richard A. Gephardt (D-MO) | (1999-2001) |
107th | Richard K. Armey (R-TX) | Richard A. Gephardt (D-MO) | (2001-2003) |
108th | Tom DeLay (R-TX) | Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) | (2003-2005) |
109th | Tom DeLay (R-TX) 10 | Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) | (2005) |
109th | Roy Blunt (R-MO) 11 | Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) | (2005-2006) |
109th | John Boehner (R-OH) 12 | Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) | (2006-2007) |
110th | Steny Hoyer (D-MD) | John Boehner (R-OH) | (2007-present) |
Source: Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress.
1 Elected Speaker on January 3, 1935, filling the vacancy caused by the death of Speaker Joseph Byrns. Records indicate that Representative John J. O’Connor of New York, chairman of the House Rules Committee, served as acting Majority Leader during the 14 remaining days of the 74th Congress. O’Connor does not, however, appear to have been formally elected Majority Leader at that time and, therefore, is not included in this list. At the commencement of the 75th Congress, Representatives Samuel (Sam) Rayburn, James O’Connor, John Rankin, and others competed for the post of Majority Leader. Representative Rayburn ultimately was elected by the Democratic Caucus.2 Elected Speaker on September 16, 1940, filling the vacancy caused by the death of Speaker William Bankhead.3 Elected Majority Leader on September 26, 1940, to fill the vacancy created when Majority Leader Sam Rayburn was elected Speaker. From September 19 to 26, 1940, Representative Lindsay Warren of North Carolina served as the acting Majority Leader.4 Elected Speaker on January 10, 1962, at the commencement of the 87th Congress, 2nd session, filling the vacancy caused by the death of Sam Rayburn.5 Elected Majority Leader on January 10, 1962, at the commencement of the 87th Congress, 2nd session, to fill the vacancy left when Majority Leader John McCormack was elected Speaker.6 Disappeared on a flight from Anchorage to Juneau, Alaska, October 16, 1972. Presumed dead pursuant to House Resolution 1, at the commencement of the 93rd Congress.7 Resigned from the House of Representatives on December 6, 1973, after having been confirmed by the Senate to become Vice President to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Vice President Spiro Agnew.8 Elected Speaker on June 6, 1989, following Speaker James Wright’s resignation on the same date.9 Elected Majority Leader on June 14, 1989, to fill the vacancy left when Majority Leader Thomas Foley was elected Speaker on June 6, 1989.10 On September 28, 2005, Majority Leader Tom DeLay temporarily stepped aside as Majority Leader pursuant to Republican Conference rules.11 Elected Majority Leader on an interim basis by the Republican Conference on September 28, 2005, to fill the vacancy created when Majority Leader Tom DeLay temporarily stepped aside.12 Elected Majority Leader by the Republican Conference on February 2, 2006.