United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics

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Select committee
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United States Senate
119th Congress
United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics.png
History
FormedFebruary 2, 1977
SucceededSelect Committee on Standards and Conduct
Leadership
Chair James Lankford (R)
Since January 3, 2025 (2025-01-03)
Vice chair Chris Coons (D)
Since January 3, 2025 (2025-01-03)
Structure
Seats6 members
Political partiesMajority (3)
  •   Republican (3)
Minority (3)
Jurisdiction
Policy areas Ethics
House counterpart United States House Committee on Ethics
Meeting place
220 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Website
ethics.senate.gov
Rules

    The U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics is a select committee of the United States Senate charged with dealing with matters related to senatorial ethics. It is also commonly referred to as the Senate Ethics Committee. Senate rules require the Ethics Committee to be evenly divided between the Democrats and the Republicans, no matter who controls the Senate. However, the chair always comes from the majority party. The leading committee member of the minority party is referred to as the Vice Chair rather than the more common Ranking Member.

    Contents

    History

    The Senate Select Committee on Standards and Conduct was first convened in the 89th Congress (1965–66) and later replaced by the Senate Select Committee on Ethics in the 95th Congress (1977–78).

    Membership

    Pursuant to Senate Rule 25, the committee is limited to six members, and is equally divided between Democrats and Republicans. This effectively means that either party can veto any action taken by the committee. [1]

    Members, 119th Congress

    Majority [2] Minority [3]

    Chairs

    List of chairs of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics

    NamePartyStateTerm
    John C. Stennis DMississippi1965–1975
    Howard Cannon DNevada1975–1977
    Adlai Stevenson III DIllinois1977–1980
    Howell Heflin DAlabama1980–1981
    Malcolm Wallop RWyoming1981–1983
    Ted Stevens RAlaska1983–1985
    Warren Rudman RNew Hampshire1985–1987
    Howell Heflin DAlabama1987–1992
    Terry Sanford DNorth Carolina1992–1993
    Richard Bryan DNevada1993–1995
    Mitch McConnell RKentucky1995–1997
    Bob Smith RNew Hampshire1997–1999
    Pat Roberts RKansas1999–2001 (ended January 3)
    Vacant2001 (January 3–20)
    Pat Roberts RKansas2001 (January 20 – June 6)
    Harry Reid DNevada2001–2003 (started June 6, 2001)
    George Voinovich ROhio2003–2007
    Barbara Boxer DCalifornia2007–2015
    Johnny Isakson RGeorgia2015–2019
    James Lankford ROklahoma2019–2021
    Chris Coons DDelaware2021–2025
    James Lankford ROklahoma2025–present

    Historical committee rosters

    110th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    111th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    112th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    Source: 2011  Congressional Record, Vol. 157, Page  S557

    113th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    Source: 2011  Congressional Record, Vol. 157, Page  S557

    114th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    Source: 2013  Congressional Record, Vol. 159, Page  S296

    115th Congress

    Members of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, 115th Congress [4]

    MajorityMinority

    116th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    117th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    See also

    References

    1. "U.S. Senate: Select Committee on Ethics". www.senate.gov. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
    2. S.Res. 16 (119th Congress)
    3. S.Res. 17 (119th Congress)
    4. Straus, Jacob R. (January 31, 2017). "Appendices A and B". Senate Select Committee on Ethics: A Brief History of Its Evolution and Jurisdiction (PDF) (Report). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved October 12, 2017.