Its Good When It Comes Down to picking whos first...Seniority is
very important in Congress. Under the seniority system, committee
chairmanships and other influential positions are decided on the
basis of how long a member has been in Congress. The seniority
system was created to weaken the power of the Speaker of the House,
which had become almost dictatorial. The system provides for an
orderly hierarchy and ensures that committee chairmen are
sufficiently experienced. Seniority also has its drawbacks: it
limits the opportunities for talented young members of Congress to
make their mark. Seniority also makes Congress less responsive to
reform because power is concentrated in the hands of older,
established members.