| 107th U.S. Congress Convenes | |
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Dateline: 01/03/2001
The
107th edition of the United States Congress gets underway on Wednesday at noon in
Washington with swearing in ceremonies featuring 42 new
Members of the House and 11 new Senators,
including former First Lady Hillary Rodham
Clinton (D-NY).
"I, __, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the
Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this
obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and
that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am
about to enter: So help me God." (5 U.S.C.
3331.)" - Oath of Office
There is no further business scheduled for the Joint Session.
Congress' next major work takes place on Friday, Jan. 5, when the House and Senate meet in Joint Session to fulfill their constitutional duty of counting and certifying the votes cast by members of the Electoral College on Dec. 18, 2000. Unless there are objections, George W. Bush will finally, and officially emerge from the session as the 43rd President-Elect of the the United States.
In the House, 221 Republicans will enjoy a slim, yet recognizable majority over 212 Democrats and two Independents, Bernard Sanders of Vermont and Virgil Goode of Virginia.
The Senate? Well, that's another story, in which the election resulted in a dead-even 50-50 split.
For the next 17 days, until noon on Jan. 20, the Democrats will hold what is known as a "nominal majority" in the Senate, because Vice President Al Gore (D) would, as President of the Senate, cast tie-breaking votes. The party of the Vice President, due to his or her tie-breaker vote, determines which party is considered the "majority" party when the Senate is evenly split.
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Once Dick Cheney (R) is sworn in as Vice President on Jan. 20, the Republicans will gain the tie-breaker vote and, thus the very "nominal" majority in the Senate.
Yesterday's Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle [D-SD] will serve as Majority Leader until Inauguration Day, after which Sen. Trent Lott [R-MS], yesterday's Majority Leader will reassume that position after having served as Minority Leader for 17 days. And, yes, it will take advanced math to figure out how this job-swapping session will affect their pay checks.
For historical reference, John Adams holds the all-time record for tie-breaking votes in the Senate by a Vice President at 29, with John C. Calhoun close behind at 28. With a 50-50 split Senate, Vice President Cheney could find himself a record-breaker.
Hold
on, folks, because, like they say at the start of any good roller coaster ride,
"Here we go!"
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