The House Democratic Caucus is a congressional caucus composed of all Democratic representatives in the United States House of Representatives, voting and non-voting,[1] and is responsible for nominating and electing the Democratic Party leadership in the chamber. In its roles as a party conference, the caucus writes and enforces rules of conduct and discipline for its members, approves committee assignments, and serves as the primary forum for development of party policy and legislative priorities. It hosts weekly meetings for these purposes and to communicate the party's message to members.
The House Democratic Caucus, through its institutional antecedent, the Democratic-Republican caucus, was established on April 2, 1796, to stop a treaty with Great Britain which unfairly treated American sailors. For many years, through 1820, it nominated presidential candidates (before the era of national nominating conventions).
At the Organizational Meeting on November 18, 2008, of the Democratic Caucus for the 111th Congress, Representative John B. Larson (D-Connecticut) was elected Caucus Chairman by acclamation. The election was presided over by the outgoing chairman of the Democratic Caucus for the 110th Congress, former Representative Rahm Emanuel (D-Illinois). Rep. Larson officially assumed the position of chairman on the first day of the 111th Congress, January 3, 2009.
After his election as chairman at the Organizational Meeting on November 18, Chairman Larson presided over the election of Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-California), who defeated Representative Marcy Kaptur of Ohio by a vote count of 175 to 67. Rep. Becerra likewise assumed his vice-chairmanship on January 3.
The vice-chair of the Democratic Caucus ranks just below the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. In addition to other duties, the vice-chair has a seat on the Steering and Policy Committee.[17]
The office of Secretary of the Democratic Caucus preceded the office of vice-chair. Until its elimination in 1987, the office of Secretary was reserved for a female member of the House.[20]
^"Rules of the Democratic Caucus". House Democrats. p. 5. Retrieved March 9, 2023. Rule 1. Caucus Membership A. All Members of the House of Representatives, the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, and the Delegates from American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands who are Members of the Democratic Party shall be prima facie Members of the Democratic Caucus of the House of Representatives.
^Mizelle, Shawna (January 4, 2023). "Hakeem Jeffries to make history as the first Black lawmaker to lead a party in Congress | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
^Caucus records show Representative Niblack and Representative Randall as both having served as chairman during the Congress, but no dates of service were specified.
^Representative Fernando Wood of New York nominated the Democratic leadership slate in the House, but there is no other evidence to show he was elected caucus chairman.
^Available data show that Representative John F. House nominated Samuel J. Randall as the Democratic candidate for Speaker, the traditional role of the caucus chairman. Later data show W.S. Rosecrans issuing the next call for a Democratic Caucus meeting, but there is no evidence to suggest that Rosecrans was actually elected caucus chairman.
^Former Parliamentarian Clarence Cannon's notes state "Cox died during this Congress and [Representative James B.] McCreary evidently succeeded or acted for him." However, Representative Cox died on September 10, 1889, six months after the sine die adjournment of the 50th Congress and the convening of the 51st Congress.
^Caucus records are contradictory for this period. They show the election of Representative James Hay as chairman on January 19, 1911, but do not mention a resignation by incumbent chairman Clayton, nor do they specify that Hay was elected chairman for the new Congress. Later, they show the election of Representative Albert S. Burleson on April 11, 1911.
^Resigned from the House, October 5, 1930; there is no record of an election to fill the vacancy as caucus chair.
^Resigned following election as majority (floor) leader, September 16, 1940; records do not indicate that a successor was chosen during the remainder of the Congress.
^Died in office, May 31, 1963. Caucus chairman post vacant until January 21, 1964.
^Representative Hoyer was elected Caucus Chairman on June 21, 1989, following the June 14, 1989, election of Representative William (Bill) H. Gray III as Majority Whip.
^On January 16, 2006, Representative Menendez resigned from the House after he was appointed to the Senate.
^"Hakeem Jeffries defeats Barbara Lee in battle for Dem Caucus chair". Politico. November 28, 2018.
^(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2006. Retrieved December 21, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2008.
^(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 4, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
house, democratic, caucus, congressional, caucus, composed, democratic, representatives, united, states, house, representatives, voting, voting, responsible, nominating, electing, democratic, party, leadership, chamber, roles, party, conference, caucus, writes. The House Democratic Caucus is a congressional caucus composed of all Democratic representatives in the United States House of Representatives voting and non voting 1 and is responsible for nominating and electing the Democratic Party leadership in the chamber In its roles as a party conference the caucus writes and enforces rules of conduct and discipline for its members approves committee assignments and serves as the primary forum for development of party policy and legislative priorities It hosts weekly meetings for these purposes and to communicate the party s message to members House Democratic CaucusPart ofUnited States House of RepresentativesFloor LeaderHakeem Jeffries NY Floor WhipKatherine Clark MA ChairPete Aguilar CA AffiliationDemocratic PartyColors BlueSeats212 435Websitehttps www dems govPolitics of United StatesPolitical partiesElectionsWhen the caucus holds the majority of seats it is usually led by the Speaker of the U S House of Representatives who is assisted on the floor by the House Majority Leader and the party s Chief Whip When in the minority it is led by the House Minority Leader assisted by the Chief Whip The caucus has a Caucus Chairman and Caucus Vice Chair formerly called the Secretary For the 118th Congress Hakeem Jeffries was elected as the Minority Leader Katherine Clark became the Minority Whip and Pete Aguilar was chosen as the Caucus Chairman Contents 1 Current hierarchy 2 Leadership history 3 Leaders of the House Democratic Caucus 3 1 Notes 4 List of chairs 5 List of vice chairs 6 List of secretaries 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksCurrent hierarchy editEffective with the start of the 118th Congress the chain of command conference leadership is as follows from highest to lowest Hakeem Jeffries NY as House Minority Leader Caucus Leader Katherine Clark MA as House Minority Whip Pete Aguilar CA as Caucus Chairman Ted Lieu CA as Caucus Vice ChairLeadership history editThe House Democratic Caucus through its institutional antecedent the Democratic Republican caucus was established on April 2 1796 to stop a treaty with Great Britain which unfairly treated American sailors For many years through 1820 it nominated presidential candidates before the era of national nominating conventions Since 2023 the House Democratic Leader has been Rep Hakeem Jeffries of New York the first African American congressional party leader in U S history 2 He was elected to succeed longtime Democratic leader and the first woman Speaker of the House in U S history Nancy Pelosi At the Organizational Meeting on November 18 2008 of the Democratic Caucus for the 111th Congress Representative John B Larson D Connecticut was elected Caucus Chairman by acclamation The election was presided over by the outgoing chairman of the Democratic Caucus for the 110th Congress former Representative Rahm Emanuel D Illinois Rep Larson officially assumed the position of chairman on the first day of the 111th Congress January 3 2009 After his election as chairman at the Organizational Meeting on November 18 Chairman Larson presided over the election of Rep Xavier Becerra D California who defeated Representative Marcy Kaptur of Ohio by a vote count of 175 to 67 Rep Becerra likewise assumed his vice chairmanship on January 3 Leaders of the House Democratic Caucus editCongress Leader District Took office Left office House Speaker20th nbsp Andrew Stevenson 1784 1857 Virginia 9 December 3 1827 June 2 1834 a Himself 1827 183421st22nd23rd Virginia 11 nbsp John Bell 1796 1869 Tennessee 7 June 2 1834 March 4 1835 Himself 1834 183524th nbsp James K Polk 1795 1849 Tennessee 9 December 7 1835 March 4 1839 Himself 1835 183925th 26th Unknown b Hunter 1839 184127th Unknown b White 1841 184328th nbsp John Winston Jones 1791 1848 Virginia 6 December 4 1843 March 4 1845 Himself 1843 184529th nbsp John Wesley Davis 1799 1859 Indiana 6 December 1 1845 March 4 1847 Himself 1845 184730th Unknown b Winthrop 1847 184931st nbsp Howell Cobb 1815 1868 Georgia 6 December 22 1849 March 4 1851 Himself 1849 185132nd nbsp Linn Boyd 1800 1859 Kentucky 1 December 1 1851 March 4 1855 Himself 1851 185533rd34th nbsp George Washington Jones 1806 1884 Tennessee 6 March 4 1855 March 4 1857 Banks 1856 185735th nbsp James Lawrence Orr 1822 1873 South Carolina 5 December 7 1857 March 3 1859 Himself 1857 185936th nbsp George S Houston 1811 1879 Alabama 5 March 4 1859 January 21 1861 c Pennington 1860 186137th Unknown d Grow 1861 186338th Unknown d Colfax 1863 186939th Unknown d 40th Unknown d Pomeroy 186941st nbsp Samuel J Randall 1828 1890 Pennsylvania 1 March 4 1869 March 3 1871 Blaine 1869 1875 nbsp William E Niblack 1822 1893 Indiana 142nd Unknown b 43rd nbsp William E Niblack 1822 1893 Indiana 1 March 4 1873 March 3 187544th nbsp Michael C Kerr 1827 1876 Indiana 3 December 6 1875 August 19 1876 e Himself 1875 1876 nbsp Samuel J Randall 1828 1890 Pennsylvania 3 December 4 1876 March 3 1881 Himself 1876 188145th46th47th Unknown b Keifer 1881 188348th nbsp John G Carlisle 1834 1910 Kentucky 6 December 3 1883 March 3 1889 Himself 1883 188949th50th51st nbsp William S Holman 1822 1897 Indiana 4 March 4 1889 March 3 1891 Reed 1889 189152nd nbsp Charles Frederick Crisp 1845 1896 Georgia 3 December 8 1891 March 3 1895 Himself 1891 189553rd54th nbsp David B Culberson 1830 1900 Texas 4 March 4 1895 March 3 1897 Reed 1895 189955th nbsp James D Richardson 1843 1914 Tennessee 5 March 4 1897 March 3 190356th Henderson 1899 190357th58th nbsp John Sharp Williams 1854 1932 Mississippi 8 March 4 1903 March 3 1909 Cannon 1903 191159th60th61st nbsp Champ Clark 1850 1921 Missouri 9 March 4 1909 March 2 1921 e 62nd Himself 1911 191963rd64th65th66th Gillett 1919 192567th nbsp Claude Kitchin 1869 1923 North Carolina 2 March 4 1921 March 4 192368th nbsp Finis J Garrett 1875 1956 Tennessee 9 March 4 1923 March 3 192969th Longworth 1925 193170th71st nbsp John Nance Garner 1868 1967 Texas 15 March 4 1929 March 3 1933 f 72nd Himself 1931 193373rd nbsp Henry Thomas Rainey 1860 1934 Illinois 20 March 9 1933 August 19 1934 e Himself 1933 193474th nbsp Jo Byrns 1869 1936 Tennessee 5 January 3 1935 June 4 1936 e Himself 1935 1936 nbsp William B Bankhead 1874 1940 Alabama 7 June 4 1936 September 15 1940 e Himself 1936 194075th76th nbsp Sam Rayburn 1882 1961 Texas 4 September 16 1940 November 16 1961 e Himself 1940 194777th78th79th80th Martin 1947 194981st Himself 1949 195382nd83rd Martin 1953 195584th Himself 1955 196185th86th87th nbsp John W McCormack 1891 1980 Massachusetts 12 January 10 1962 January 3 1971 Himself 1962 197188th Massachusetts 989th90th91st92nd nbsp Carl Albert 1908 2000 Oklahoma 3 January 21 1971 January 3 1977 Himself 1971 197793rd94th95th nbsp Tip O Neill 1912 1994 Massachusetts 8 January 4 1977 January 3 1987 Himself 1977 198796th97th98th99th100th nbsp Jim Wright 1922 2015 Texas 12 January 6 1987 June 6 1989 a Himself 1987 1989101st nbsp Tom Foley 1929 2013 Washington 5 June 6 1989 January 3 1995 Himself 1989 1995102nd103rd104th nbsp Dick Gephardt born 1941 Missouri 3 January 3 1995 January 3 2003 Gingrich 1995 1999105th106th Hastert 1999 2007107th108th nbsp Nancy Pelosi born 1940 California 8 January 3 2003 January 3 2023109th110th Herself 2007 2011111th112th Boehner 2011 2015113th California 12114th Ryan 2015 2019115th116th Herself 2019 2023117th118th nbsp Hakeem Jeffries born 1970 New York 8 January 3 2023 Incumbent McCarthy 2023 McHenry Pro tempore 2023 Johnson 2023 presentNotes edit a b Resigned from office and from Congress a b c d e Whoever held this office during this Congress is unknown Alabama seceded from the Union on January 11 1861 and Houston withdrew from Congress ten days later on January 21 a b c d Whoever held this office during this Congress is unknown although it was likely vacant due to the American Civil War a b c d e f Died in office Resigned to become Vice President of the United States List of chairs editChairs are currently limited to two consecutive terms Officeholder State Congress TermJames Thompson Pennsylvania 31st 1849 1851N A 3 32nd 1851 1853Edson B Olds Ohio 33rd 1853 1855George Washington Jones Tennessee 34th 1855 1857N A 4 35th 1857 1859George S Houston Alabama 36th 1859 1861N A 5 37th 40th 1861 1869William E Niblack Samuel J Randall 6 Indiana Pennsylvania 41st 1869 1871N A 7 42nd 1871 1873William E Niblack Indiana 43rd 1873 1875Lucius Q C Lamar Mississippi 44th 1875 1877Hiester Clymer Pennsylvania 45th 1877 1879John F House Tennessee 46th 1879 1881N A 8 47th 1881 1883George W Geddes Ohio 48th 1883 1885J Randolph Tucker Virginia 49th 1885 1887Samuel S Cox 9 New York 50th 1887 1889William S Holman Indiana 51st 53rd 1889 1895David B Culberson Texas 54th 1895 1897James D Richardson Tennessee 55th 1897 1899James Hay Virginia 56th 58th 1899 1905Robert L Henry Texas 59th 1905 1907Henry D Clayton 10 Alabama 60th 61st 1907 1911Albert S Burleson Texas 62nd 1911 1913A Mitchell Palmer Pennsylvania 63rd 1913 1915Edward W Saunders Virginia 64th 65th 1915 1919Arthur G DeWalt Pennsylvania 66th 1919 1921Sam Rayburn Texas 67th 1921 1923Henry T Rainey Illinois 68th 1923 1925Charles D Carter Oklahoma 69th 1925 1927Arthur H Greenwood Indiana 70th 1927 1929David H Kincheloe Kentucky 71st 1929 1930 11 William W Arnold Illinois 72nd 1931 1933Clarence F Lea California 73rd 1933 1935Edward T Taylor Colorado 74th 1935 1937Robert L Doughton North Carolina 75th 1937 1939John W McCormack Massachusetts 76th 1939 1940 12 Richard M Duncan Missouri 77th 1941 1943Harry R Sheppard California 78th 1943 1945Jere Cooper Tennessee 79th 1945 1947Aime J Forand Rhode Island 80th 1947 1949Francis E Walter Pennsylvania 81st 1949 1951Jere Cooper Tennessee 82nd 1951 1953Wilbur D Mills Arkansas 83rd 1953 1955John J Rooney New York 84th 1955 1957Melvin Price Illinois 85th 86th 1957 1961Francis E Walter 13 Pennsylvania 87th 88th 1961 1963Albert Thomas Texas 88th 1964 1965Eugene Keogh New York 89th 1965 1967Dan Rostenkowski Illinois 90th 91st 1967 1971Olin Teague Texas 92nd 93rd 1971 1975Phillip Burton California 94th 1976 1977Thomas S Foley Washington 95th 96th 1977 1981Gillis W Long Louisiana 97th 98th 1981 1985Richard A Gephardt Missouri 99th 100th 1985 1989William H Gray III Pennsylvania 101st 1989Steny H Hoyer Maryland 101st 103rd 1989 1995 14 Vic Fazio California 104th 105th 1995 1999Martin Frost Texas 106th 107th 1999 2003Bob Menendez New Jersey 108th 109th 2003 2006 15 James Clyburn South Carolina 109th 2006 2007Rahm Emanuel Illinois 110th 2007 2009John B Larson Connecticut 111th 112th 2009 2013Xavier Becerra California 113th 114th 2013 2017Joe Crowley New York 115th 2017 2019Hakeem Jeffries New York 116th 117th 2019 2023 16 Pete Aguilar California 118th 2023 presentList of vice chairs editThe vice chair of the Democratic Caucus ranks just below the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus In addition to other duties the vice chair has a seat on the Steering and Policy Committee 17 Mary Rose Oakar 1987 1989 18 Steny Hoyer 1989 19 Vic Fazio 1989 1995 Barbara B Kennelly 1995 1999 Bob Menendez 1999 2003 Jim Clyburn 2003 2006 John B Larson 2006 2009 Xavier Becerra 2009 2012 Joe Crowley 2012 2017 Linda Sanchez 2017 2019 Katherine Clark 2019 2021 Pete Aguilar 2021 2023 Ted Lieu 2023 present List of secretaries editThe office of Secretary of the Democratic Caucus preceded the office of vice chair Until its elimination in 1987 the office of Secretary was reserved for a female member of the House 20 Chase G Woodhouse 1949 1951 Edna F Kelly 1953 1957 1964 1965 Leonor K Sullivan 1959 1964 1965 1975 Patsy Mink 1975 1977 Shirley Chisholm 1977 1981 Geraldine Ferraro 1981 1985 Mary Rose Oakar 1985 1987 See also editRepublican Conference of the United States House of Representatives Congressional caucusReferences edit Rules of the Democratic Caucus House Democrats p 5 Retrieved March 9 2023 Rule 1 Caucus Membership A All Members of the House of Representatives the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico and the Delegates from American Samoa the District of Columbia Guam the Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands who are Members of the Democratic Party shall be prima facie Members of the Democratic Caucus of the House of Representatives Mizelle Shawna January 4 2023 Hakeem Jeffries to make history as the first Black lawmaker to lead a party in Congress CNN Politics CNN Retrieved January 4 2023 No clear records remain for this Congress No clear records remain for this Congress No clear records remain for these Congresses Caucus records show Representative Niblack and Representative Randall as both having served as chairman during the Congress but no dates of service were specified Representative Fernando Wood of New York nominated the Democratic leadership slate in the House but there is no other evidence to show he was elected caucus chairman Available data show that Representative John F House nominated Samuel J Randall as the Democratic candidate for Speaker the traditional role of the caucus chairman Later data show W S Rosecrans issuing the next call for a Democratic Caucus meeting but there is no evidence to suggest that Rosecrans was actually elected caucus chairman Former Parliamentarian Clarence Cannon s notes state Cox died during this Congress and Representative James B McCreary evidently succeeded or acted for him However Representative Cox died on September 10 1889 six months after the sine die adjournment of the 50th Congress and the convening of the 51st Congress Caucus records are contradictory for this period They show the election of Representative James Hay as chairman on January 19 1911 but do not mention a resignation by incumbent chairman Clayton nor do they specify that Hay was elected chairman for the new Congress Later they show the election of Representative Albert S Burleson on April 11 1911 Resigned from the House October 5 1930 there is no record of an election to fill the vacancy as caucus chair Resigned following election as majority floor leader September 16 1940 records do not indicate that a successor was chosen during the remainder of the Congress Died in office May 31 1963 Caucus chairman post vacant until January 21 1964 Representative Hoyer was elected Caucus Chairman on June 21 1989 following the June 14 1989 election of Representative William Bill H Gray III as Majority Whip On January 16 2006 Representative Menendez resigned from the House after he was appointed to the Senate Hakeem Jeffries defeats Barbara Lee in battle for Dem Caucus chair Politico November 28 2018 Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on November 29 2006 Retrieved December 21 2006 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Center for American Women and Politics PDF Archived from the original PDF on March 26 2009 Retrieved December 19 2008 Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on February 4 2011 Retrieved July 18 2011 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Congressional Women On the Secretary positionExternal links editOfficial site of the Democratic Caucus Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title House Democratic Caucus amp oldid 1184143450, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
