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Seniority in the United States House of Representatives

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This is a complete list of current members of the U.S. House of Representatives based on seniority. For the most part, representatives are ranked by the beginning of their terms in office. Representatives whose terms begin the same day are ranked alphabetically by last name.

Contents

Standards for seniority

Representatives who return to the House after having previously served in the House are credited with service equal to one less than the number of terms they served. For example, Rep. Steve Chabot had previously served seven terms, from 1995 to 2009, when he was once again elected in 2010. Instead of holding seniority with others whose terms began January 3, 2011, he was credited with six terms, and holds seniority above all representatives whose terms began January 3, 1999, and after. When a representative has served a prior term of fewer than two terms (i.e., prior term minus one equals less than one), he or she is ranked above all others whose service begins on the same day.

Benefits of seniority

Committee chairmanship in the House is often associated with seniority, especially in the Democratic Caucus. The Republican leadership has a stronger hand in choosing committee chairs and ranking minority members, and does so based on voting records and campaign fundraising. Party leadership in the House is not strictly associated with seniority.

Vacancies

  • January 23, 2017 — Kansas 4 — Mike Pompeo resigned to become Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
  • January 24, 2017 — California 34 — Xavier Becerra resigned to become Attorney General of California
  • February 10, 2017 — Georgia 6 — Tom Price resigned to become United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
  • February 16, 2017 — South Carolina 5 — Mick Mulvaney resigned to become Director of the Office of Management and Budget
  • March 1, 2017 — Montana at-large — Ryan Zinke resigned to become United States Secretary of the Interior
  • References

    Seniority in the United States House of Representatives Wikipedia