Senate Majority Leader

The Majority Leader is in a practical sense the most senior Senate official. (The Vice President and the President pro-tempore of the Senate are largely ceremonial positions.) As the day-to-day manager of business on the Senate floor, the Majority Leader is responsible for working with each Committee on legislation and scheduling the sequence and manner of debate on all legislation. As the highest ranking partisan position in the Senate, the Majority Leader exercises broad powers, has the right of priority recognition on the Senate floor, and serves as the primary spokesperson for Senate Democrats. In concert with other elected leaders, the Majority Leader has also assumed responsibilities for building and managing Democratic Conference consensus on legislation.

Website for the Senate Majority Leader
Website for the Senate Majority Leader: Senator Harry Reid  


Senate Assistant Majority Leader

The responsibilities of the Assistant Majority Leader are similar to that ofthe House Whip: persuading Members to support the Conference position on votesand projecting support for the Conference position.

Website for the Assistant Majority Leader: Senator Dick Durbin
Website for the Majority Chief Deputy Whip: Senator Barbara Boxer

Senate Democratic Conference Secretary

The Senate Democratic Conference Secretary is the third ranking leadership position for the minority party. The Democratic Conference Secretary is selected by a vote of the Democratic Conference. The Senate Democratic Conference is the organizational vehicle for all Democrat Members of the Senate and their staff. The Conference hosts periodic meetings of Senate Democrats and is the primary vehicle for communicating the partys message to Members.

Website for the Senate Democratic Conference
Website for the ConferenceSecretary: Senator Patty Murray

Chairman, Senate DemocraticPolicy Committee

The Senate Democratic Policy Committee (DPC) is the policy-making arm of the Senate Democrats. In the 110th Congress, this committee was reorganized and was given additional responsibilities, including the authority to conduct oversight investigations and hold public hearings focusing on government accountability.

Website for the Senate Democratic Policy Committee
Website for the Senate Democratic Policy Committee Chairman: Senator Byron L. Dorgan

Chairman, Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee

The Democratic Steering and Coordination Committeeis responsible for building coalitions with Democratsat all levels of government, and with advocacy organizations in pursuit of the policy objectives of the Senate Democratic Conference. The Chairman of the Democratic Steering and Coordination Committee is appointed by the Majority Leader.

Website for the Democratic Steering and Coordination Committee
Website for the Democratic Steering and Coordination Committee Chairman: Senator Debbie Stabenow

Chairman, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

The Chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) is appointed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. The Chairman of the DSCC oversees the political committee of Senate Democrats which is not funded by tax dollars nor located in the Congressional complex. The Chairman of the DSCC added by a Vice Chair is responsible for coordinating the efforts of Senate Democrats with a strategy to elect Democrats to the United States Senate.

Website for the DSCC Chair: Senator Bob Menendez