| 112th United States Congress | |||
United States Capitol (2011) |
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| Duration: January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013 | |||
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| Senate President: | Joe Biden (D) | ||
| Senate Pres. pro tem: | Daniel Inouye (D) | ||
| House Speaker: | John Boehner (R) | ||
| Members: | 100 Senators 435 Representatives 6 Non-voting members |
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| Senate Majority: | Democratic Party | ||
| House Majority: | Republican Party | ||
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| 1st: January 5, 2011[1] – January 3, 2012[2] 2nd: January 3, 2012[2] – present |
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The One Hundred Twelfth United States Congress is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It convened in Washington, D.C. on January 3, 2011, and will end on January 3, 2013, close to the end of the presidential term to which Barack Obama was elected in 2008. Senators elected to regular terms in 2006 will complete those terms in this Congress. This Congress includes the last House of Representatives elected from congressional districts that were apportioned based on the 2000 census.
In the 2010 midterm elections, the Republican Party won the majority in the House of Representatives. While the Democrats kept their Senate majority, it was reduced from the previous Congress.[3] This is the first Congress in which the House and Senate are controlled by different parties since the 107th Congress (2001–2003), and the first Congress to begin that way since the 99th Congress (1985–1987). In this Congress, the House of Representatives has the largest number of Republican members, 242, since the 80th Congress (1947–1949).[4] This also marks the first time since 1947 that a member of the Kennedy family has not served in Congress.
| Wikinews has related news: US government shutdown averted in last-minute deal |
A failure to pass a 2011 federal budget nearly led to a shutdown of non-essential government services on April 9, 2011, with the furlough of 800,000 government employees appearing imminent.[6] President Obama met Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker John Boehner in the days preceding the deadline but was unable to come to an agreement to pass a budget.[citation needed] A one-week budget was proposed to avoid a government shutdown and allow more time for negotiations; however, proposals from both parties could not be accommodated.[citation needed] Obama said he would veto a proposed Republican budget over Republican social spending cuts.[citation needed] This was also backed by Senate Democrats who objected to such cuts as that of Planned Parenthood.[7][8][9] However, an agreement was reached between the two parties for a one-week budget to allow for more time to negotiate after Republicans dropped their stance on the Planned Parenthood issue.[8] The two parties ultimately agreed on a 2011 federal budget the following week.[citation needed]
There were many reactions to the possible shutdown with some saying the economy could be hurt during a fragile recovery[10] and others saying the lack of an unnecessary bureaucracy would not be noticed.[11] There was also criticism that while senators and representatives would continue to get paid others such as the police and military personnel would either not be paid for their work or have their payments deferred.[12]
| Wikinews has related news: US President Obama announces deal reached to avert government default |
On August 2, 2011, the United States public debt was projected to reach its statutory maximum. Without an increase in that limit the U.S. Treasury would be unable to borrow money to pay its bills. Although previous statutory increases have been routine, conservative members of the House refused to allow an increase without drastically reducing government spending. Over several weeks and months, negotiators from both parties, both houses, and the White House worked to forge a compromise. The compromise bill, the Budget Control Act of 2011, was enacted on August 2.
| Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
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Total | Vacant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Independent | Republican | |||
| End of previous congress | 56 | 2 | 42 | 100 | 0 |
| Begin | 51 | 2 | 47 | 100 | 0 |
| May 3, 2011 | 46 | 99 | 1 | ||
| May 9, 2011 | 47 | 100 | 0 | ||
| Latest voting share | 53% | 47% | |||
| Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | Vacant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | ||||
| End of previous congress | 255 | 179 | 434 | 1 | |
| Begin | 193 | 242 | 435 | 0 | |
| February 9, 2011 | 241 | 434 | 1 | ||
| February 28, 2011 | 192 | 433 | 2 | ||
| May 9, 2011 | 240 | 432 | 3 | ||
| May 24, 2011 | 193 | 433 | 2 | ||
| June 21, 2011 | 192 | 432 | 3 | ||
| July 12, 2011 | 193 | 433 | 2 | ||
| August 3, 2011 | 192 | 432 | 3 | ||
| September 13, 2011 | 242 | 434 | 1 | ||
| January 25, 2012 | 191 | 433 | 2 | ||
| January 31, 2012 | 192 | 434 | 1 | ||
| March 6, 2012 | 191 | 433 | 2 | ||
| March 20, 2012 | 190 | 432 | 3 | ||
| Latest voting share | 44% | 56% | |||
| Non-voting members | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
[ Section contents: Senate: Majority (D), Minority (R) • House: Majority (R), Minority (D) ]
| State (class) |
Former senator | Reason for change | Successor | Date of successor's installation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada (1) |
John Ensign (R) |
Resigned May 3, 2011 due to an Ethics Committee investigation.[18] The appointed successor will serve for the remainder of the term that ends with this Congress. |
Dean Heller (R)[19] |
May 9, 2011[20] |
| District | Vacator | Reason for change | Successor | Date of successor's installation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York 26th | Christopher Lee (R) |
Resigned February 9, 2011, due to a personal scandal.[21] A special election was held May 24, 2011.[22] |
Kathy Hochul (D) |
June 1, 2011 |
| California 36th | Jane Harman (D) |
Resigned February 28, 2011 to become the head of the Woodrow Wilson Center.[23] A special election was held July 12, 2011.[24] |
Janice Hahn (D) |
July 19, 2011 |
| Nevada 2nd | Dean Heller (R) |
Resigned May 9, 2011, when appointed to the Senate.[19] A special election was held September 13, 2011.[25] |
Mark Amodei (R) |
September 15, 2011 |
| New York 9th | Anthony Weiner (D) |
Resigned June 21, 2011, due to a personal scandal.[26] A special election was held September 13, 2011.[27] |
Bob Turner (R) |
September 15, 2011 |
| Oregon 1st | David Wu (D) |
Resigned August 3, 2011, due to a personal scandal. A special election was held January 31, 2012.[28] |
Suzanne Bonamici (D) |
February 7, 2012 |
| Arizona 8th | Gabrielle Giffords (D) |
Resigned January 25, 2012, to focus on recovery from 2011 Tucson Shooting.[29] A special election will be held June 12, 2012.[30] |
TBD | TBD |
| New Jersey 10th | Donald M. Payne (D) |
Died March 6, 2012.[31] A special election will be held November 6, 2012.[32] |
TBD | TBD |
| Washington 1st | Jay Inslee (D) |
Resigned March 20, 2012 to focus on gubernatorial campaign.[33] A special election will be held November 6, 2012.[34] |
TBD | TBD |
[ Section contents: Senate, House, Joint ]
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