Talk:118th United States Congress

Infobox image

It should be alright to have an image of the US Capitol, even it it's not an image taken between Jan 2023 & Jan 2025. GoodDay (talk) 21:51, 27 August 2022 (UTC)

Yeah, sure. —CX Zoom[he/him] ^{(let's talk • {C•X})} 08:12, 28 August 2022 (UTC)

Harris & Murray

I had to remove Grassley's image, as we don't use an image of the president pro tempore-emeritus, in that section. Also, I moved Murray's image below Harris' image, as she's not succeeding Harris as Senate president. The Senate president pro tempore ranks 'below' the Senate president. I used the 116th United States Congress & other preceding US Congresses with the same transition of officials, for what to do. GoodDay (talk) 01:36, 17 November 2022 (UTC)

Senate & House party leaders/whips images.

I've deleted the images of the Senate & House party leaders & whips. We don't have them in any of the preceding th US Congress pages, as they're not constitutional offices. GoodDay (talk) 05:28, 17 November 2022 (UTC)

Umm, yes we do. Jdavi333 (talk) 15:41, 17 November 2022 (UTC)

No we don't. We show only the images of the Senate president, senate pro tempore & the House speaker. GoodDay (talk) 15:48, 17 November 2022 (UTC)

117th_United_States_Congress#Members Jdavi333 (talk) 15:51, 17 November 2022 (UTC)

Yeah I just noticed a few moments ago, my error. Forgot that they are in a different section, from the three constitutional offices. GoodDay (talk) 15:53, 17 November 2022 (UTC)

@Jdavi333: Shouldn't it be the Senate majority leadership, rather then the minority leadership images, shown? GoodDay (talk) 15:57, 17 November 2022 (UTC)

Majority leadership is not known yet (Democrats do not hold their vote until December). Once it is we will add those in and have both majority and minority in both House and Senate. Jdavi333 (talk) 17:08, 17 November 2022 (UTC)

Cool. GoodDay (talk) 18:00, 17 November 2022 (UTC)

@Jdavi333: in the th US Congress pages where we have images of both the Senate president & president pro tempore shown. We put the Senate president's image above the Senate president pro tempore's image, as one outranks the other. If you disagree with this arrangement? then by all means open an RFC. GoodDay (talk) 22:47, 17 November 2022 (UTC)

Majority

At current, there are only 48 Democrat party members confirmed and 49 Republican party members confirmed for the Senate. Sanders and King often caucus with the Democrats but are not Democrats. This means that as parties are concerned, the Democrats are NOT the majority party, the Republicans are. Georgia will determine if Republicans remain the majority party or if the two parties will tie. Even the first table under Party Summary, titled Senate, concurs with this state of affairs (though it incorrectly shows the Democrat party holding control, which is false, though one can argue with Sanders and King's support, the Democrat CAUCUS has control). Lrwerewolf (talk) 03:50, 29 November 2022 (UTC)

The Indies caucus with the Dems, so that makes them the majority Caucus/Conference. This is the way it was last term, and every other term in the past. Jdavi333 (talk) 16:14, 29 November 2022 (UTC)

How do we capitalize the word "majority" as a part of House Majority and Senate Majority in the Infobox? It should be capitalized. EDZ Madrigal 21 (talk) 18:03, 5 January 2023 (UTC)

No, it is not necessary because "majority" is not a proper noun. —CX Zoom[he/him] ^{(let's talk • {C•X})} 11:33, 6 January 2023 (UTC)

But "House Speaker" and "Senate President" are both capitalized despite "speaker" and "president" not being proper nouns. EDZ Madrigal 21 (talk) 22:30, 6 January 2023 (UTC)

Because they both are positions of an organization (in this case, the government), which are often capitalized. For example, you'd find "Chief Executive Officer" or "Prime Minister" mostly in this form rather than sentence case. "House majority" is not a position. —CX Zoom[he/him] ^{(let's talk • {C•X})} 06:28, 7 January 2023 (UTC)

Sasse

@Drdpw: Regarding Special:Diff/1126025553, we do note upcoming membership changes if confirmed by sources. It doesn't make a claim of certainty, but appropriately notes that "is expected to [resign]". So why did you remove this? —CX Zoom[he/him] ^{(let's talk • {C•X})} 07:45, 7 December 2022 (UTC)

A membership change should not be recorded in this table until the change takes place. An announced resignation, is simply an announcement, it changes nothing. I would have no problem with the expected membership change being included as hidden text, but there is no membership change yet, which is what this table records, until he actually leaves office. Drdpw (talk) 14:00, 7 December 2022 (UTC)

Ehh, in that case we should just remove the entire section because at this point Sasse's resignation on Jan 8 is more certain than a Senator dying in an accident. Did we know with certainty, for example, that Rep. Donald McEachin wasn't going to die? Yet, until he died we had him included in the membership tables. —CX Zoom[he/him] ^{(let's talk • {C•X})} 18:54, 7 December 2022 (UTC)

Ping @Drdpw as you might not have read this. —CX Zoom[he/him] ^{(let's talk • {C•X})} 14:33, 8 December 2022 (UTC)

I did read your reply, but the even so, the fact remains that the membership change has not taken place yet, even though it has been announced and will most certainly occur on a specified future date. Drdpw (talk) 16:29, 8 December 2022 (UTC)

In past articles we have included announced resignations with a TBD date. Currently on the 117th Congress page for Karen Bass. I think it should come back as "January TBD, 2023" until Sasse announces a date. Jdavi333 (talk) 21:01, 8 December 2022 (UTC)

He did already announce January 8 according to this. —CX Zoom[he/him] ^{(let's talk • {C•X})} 21:29, 8 December 2022 (UTC)

Then I think it should be put back into the table. Pending resignations have always been included. Jdavi333 (talk) 22:13, 8 December 2022 (UTC)

I'll go along with reaffirming past practice then. Drdpw (talk) 22:28, 8 December 2022 (UTC)

incomplete

I realize that a lot of times ppl want to look up names by state but this year, with the speakership battle, an alphabetical list by last name of the House would be good along with their votes because it's a roll call vote. Then inquiring minds can see vote by vote who affected the outcome of each vote. 108.51.169.236 (talk) 20:29, 3 January 2023 (UTC)

Find more about the speakership election at 2023 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election. —CX Zoom[he/him] ^{(let's talk • {C•X})} 11:11, 4 January 2023 (UTC)

Lots of accessibility and MOS issues still

See Talk:117th_United_States_Congress#Titles_need_to_be_changed_across_several_articles and also MOS:TABLECAPTION, WP:ALT, etc. Please make sure that this article is accessible and meets the basic requirements of the MoS. ―Justin (koavf)❤T☮C☺M☯ 05:09, 4 January 2023 (UTC)

Thanks for fixing them Koavf. —CX Zoom[he/him] ^{(let's talk • {C•X})} 11:13, 4 January 2023 (UTC)

Trivia

If anyone wants to add trivial information about Jeffries being the first black leader in Congress, or McConnel being the longest leader in Senate, feel free to add them with sourcing in a separate "Trivia" section. Try not to use the current well-defined concise sections for it. Thanks! —CX Zoom[he/him] ^{(let's talk • {C•X})} 16:49, 4 January 2023 (UTC)

Apparently, we're not allowed to use multiple image boxes for only one image.

Had to reformat Harris' & Murray's images into single image boxes, because an editor kept objecting (via reverts) that multiple image boxes were not allowed to be used for single images. GoodDay (talk) 20:57, 4 January 2023 (UTC)

Official start of terms for U.S. Reps

Why do some pages say that all these new freshman reps became incumbents on January 3 and some pages say January 7? Has the actual date not been determined? I don't think it's clear whether terms automatically begin on January 3 no matter what or if the term only starts once they've been sworn in. If it's January 7, they why isn't it being recorded that every seat was vacant January 3-7? Benn257 (talk) 00:44, 8 January 2023 (UTC)

Their terms began on January 3, 2023, no matter when they took their oaths. Since 1789, many members of the House & Senate who's full terms began on March 4 (pre-20th amendment) & January 3 (post-20th amendment), didn't take their oaths until much later dates. The 118th Congress' House isn't an unprecedented situation. GoodDay (talk) 03:59, 8 January 2023 (UTC)

The seat for the Speaker of House was vacant from January 3rd to the 7th. Cwater1 (talk) 04:46, 20 January 2023 (UTC)

Emeritus/Emerita

I'm in agreement with @Drdpw:'s deletion of the 'president pro tempore-emeritus' & the 'speaker-emerita' honorary titles. I've deleted the former from the xth US Congress pages as well, a honorary title created back in 2001. These are not constitutional offices, but rather 'gold watches' (for lack of a better terminology) handed out by party colleagues. They're too trivial to be included. GoodDay (talk) 07:15, 8 January 2023 (UTC)

The senate creates the PPT Emeritus by resolution (S Res 7 in 2021), which is voted on by the body or agreed to by unanimous consent. The office used to have extra staff and budget, but no longer does. Because the Senate is a continuing body, Grassley does not have to be "reappointed" every two years. By contrast, Speaker Emeritus is never a position that has been created. If it were and the position would be voted upon, then Pelosi should certainly be put in the leadership section. However, because the house "dissolves" and is "reconstituted" every 2 years, it would have to be voted on at the beginning of every term. I think Grassley should be put back (in addition the previous term's pages restored). Jdavi333 (talk) 21:23, 9 January 2023 (UTC)

AFAIK these honorary positions have the same effect under law as Majority/Minority leadership positions. They were created under law in a similar manner, and are not a constitutionally created office like Speaker, President of the Senate. Hence, if any positions other than these two are being listed, then all of them should be. Thanks! —CX Zoom[he/him] ^{(let's talk • {C•X})} 19:20, 12 January 2023 (UTC)

The Senate created PPT Emeritus, so perhaps. The House has not created Speaker Emeritus/Emerita, so no. And for the record, neither is listed among Senate or House leadership on official congressional websites. Drdpw (talk) 19:50, 12 January 2023 (UTC)

I would say PPT is more than Maj/Min leader. PPT is created by senate resolution and is a Constitutional position. PPTE is created by resolution as an honorary position. Leaders are not created by resolution. Rather, each party (DEM caucus/GOP conference) elects a leader. When the Congress opens, whichever party has more seats, their leader is "Majority", and the other is "Minority." If somehow there would be 3 Dem vacancies, McConnell will become Majority leader automatically, with no Senate action required, by virtue of the GOP having a 49-48 advantage. Jdavi333 (talk) 20:00, 12 January 2023 (UTC)

President pro tempore-emeritus/emerita & Speaker-emeritus/emerita, are merely honorary titles & nothing more. GoodDay (talk) 22:23, 12 January 2023 (UTC)

BTW - Would somebody (if they know how) fix up the 'party summary' in the US Senate section on this & the 117th United States Congress page? GoodDay (talk) 22:34, 12 January 2023 (UTC)

Just to let everyone know, this was a MW bug tracked at phab:T326990 which is now resolved. —CX Zoom[he/him] ^{(let's talk • {C•X})} 10:55, 28 January 2023 (UTC)

Major Resolutions

It is looking as though this session may involve a significant number of congressional disapproval joint resolutions. There may need to be some guideline established as to which will be included on this page. Noahp2 (talk) 23:56, 3 May 2023 (UTC)

Santos indicted and arrested

Does Santos's arrest affect voting share? HandsomeFella (talk) 15:42, 10 May 2023 (UTC)

No. OutlawRun (talk) 20:05, 10 May 2023 (UTC)

Upset about the text

Why did you repeatedly remove that Kevin McCarthy was elected speaker on January 7, 2023 just after 15 rounds of balloting? 24.46.59.173 (talk) 20:22, 16 May 2023 (UTC)

It is there in the lead. It does not have to appear whenever McCarthy is mentioned. HandsomeFella (talk) 17:35, 17 May 2023 (UTC)

Eric Swalwell

Why have the removals of both Representantives Ilhan Omar (MN) and Adam Schiff (CA) from their respective committees been included in the "Major Events" section, but the removal of Representative Eric Swalwell (CA) from his committee has been omitted? It would seem that all three events are of equal significance. Can someone please add Swalwell's removal to the "Major Events" section? Thank you.66.91.36.8 (talk) 06:01, 18 September 2023 (UTC)

House Democratic Leadership

I'm not sure whether or not this is a typographical error, but under House Democratic Leadership, the position of Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee appears to be listed twice, once with Joe Neguse (CO) in the position and a second time with Veronica Escobar (TX). I checked the Wikipedia pages for both representatives and Joe Neguse's page seems to confirm his position as chair, but Veronica Escobar's page mentions no chair positions whatsoever. If I were to guess, I'd say the leadership position ascribed to Escobar is a typographical error, but I am hesitant to unilaterally make the edit in case I missed something. Can someone with more knowledge on the matter clarify or make the edit? Thank you. 66.91.36.8 (talk) 12:03, 18 September 2023 (UTC)

Motion to vacate info?

Should there a motion to vacate page too? Or some kind of larger representation on the page? MonkeyBBGB (talk) 00:46, 4 October 2023 (UTC)

Looks like it has its own page. Probably just need to implement it into page a bit more evidently. MonkeyBBGB (talk) 03:16, 4 October 2023 (UTC)

Speaker

Should the Speaker portrait infobox include both McCarthy and then McHenry a la the VP/Pro Temp changes we see on the 117th page? DAWGinRoswell 16:35, 4 October 2023 (UTC) DAWGinRoswell 16:35, 4 October 2023 (UTC)

Sure, but it needs to be very clear that these are two separate offices, the pro tempore exists in an absence of the Speaker, not in tandem like the senate. --WashuOtaku (talk) 17:25, 4 October 2023 (UTC)

McCarthy & Johnson

Shouldn't both images of McCarthy & Johnson be on the page, concerning they were/are Speakers of the House? McCarthy's tenure as speaker, shouldn't be ignored. GoodDay (talk) 18:51, 25 October 2023 (UTC)

I would recommend the multiple image method, used for Pence & Harris at the 117th United States Congress page. GoodDay (talk) 19:01, 25 October 2023 (UTC)

Should McCarthy be listed as Speaker Emeritus under "Leadership"?

If "Speaker Emeritus" is considered a role in leadership and stated for Nancy Pelosi, it should now apply to Kevin McCarthy as well. Many sources (such as this article) have stated his role as speaker emeritus, and the Republican representatives are using this title as well.

User:TransTheftAuto is saying that the title has not been officially declared or granted, but the speaker emeritus seems to be more of an honorific title than a substantive officer position. It's not a position elected by the House as a body or appointed by its officers like the speaker; it's a role given by the respective caucus, and the Republican conference may be treating McCarthy's assuming of the role as automatic. Mike Johnson's first speech from the chair even had the words, around the beginning, "I want to express my great thanks for our (conference's) Speaker Emeritus, Kevin McCarthy" (similar to Hakeem Jeffries's speech before it thanking Nancy Pelosi with that role mentioned), and the Republican conference applauded. This seems like tacit approval of that role.

Democrats such as Abigail Spanberger seem to acknowledge McCarthy as an emeritus as well, according to this page: “Prior to assuming the role of Speaker of the House, U.S. Representative Kevin McCarthy promised to hold a vote on legislation to ban Member stock trading,” said Spanberger. “Unfortunately, there was no significant movement on this issue in the nine months of Speaker Emeritus McCarthy’s tenure.” 104.175.78.152 (talk) 04:31, 29 October 2023 (UTC)

No, as we no longer include presidents pro tempore emeritus'. GoodDay (talk) 03:02, 14 November 2023 (UTC)

House seating maps need fixing up

We're missing two spans of vacancies, in the House seating images. GoodDay (talk) 17:39, 1 December 2023 (UTC)

CRA Resolutions

I'm re-upping this topic since there seem to be a few more potential inclusions in the pipeline. The question is whether CRA joint resolutions (attempts to reverse administrative rules/actions) should be listed on this page. As they've built up I've been leaning towards "no" since their descriptions aren't very informative and it's difficult to determine which are actually major or significant. Noahp2 (talk) 15:52, 12 April 2024 (UTC)

House membership map

The House membership map needs updating to March 22, 2024. I don't know how to accomplish this. GoodDay (talk) 18:06, 13 April 2024 (UTC)

Article focused on Republican legislative problems/Republican-Democrat informal coalition

I think the issues that Republicans are having with governing in the House and their reliance on Democrats to pass key legislation may warrant its own article. I have created a draft, Draft:2023–24 House of Representatives legislative coalition, which I think talk page watchers of this page may be interested in. I would love help and suggestions, including those from people who don't believe this warrants an article at all. Thanks! Esolo5002 (talk) 19:53, 19 April 2024 (UTC)

I have only seen this partnership being called a "coalition" in the past couple days. I think it's too early to establish the notability of this partnership, especially since the "key legislation" they have been passing has been almost exclusively legislation to keep the government running and not actual policy. It's also been so informal that I think it's too hard to define for its own article at this point. OutlawRun (talk) 21:52, 19 April 2024 (UTC)

Menendez

Therequiembellishere, as you should know by now, the WP:ONUS for consensus to this contested change is on you. As OutlawRun and I read the sources, we see nothing that suggests that Menendez is an independent. He is merely running as one, but remains in the Democratic Party. None of the sources you linked say he left the party. You brought up Joe Lieberman, but none of the sources on Menendez today do. That's WP:OR. Different states have different rules. Please self-revert so I don't continue in an edit war with you and discuss this properly. – Muboshgu (talk) 22:55, 3 June 2024 (UTC)

[1] says "Asked on his way into court Monday if he’s changing political parties, Menendez said in Spanish, 'no, independent doesn’t mean I’m changing.'" Muboshgu is correct to revert, Menendez did not leave the party to become an independent, he's just running without a party label because of the circumstances. Reywas92^Talk 13:48, 4 June 2024 (UTC)

When Lieberman was defeated in the Democratic primary and won reelection on a third party line, he explicitly called himself an "Independent Democrat". When Lisa Murkowski won re-election as a write-in over the Republican nominee, she remained an avowed Republican. Shocker, it matters what the people at issue actually say. Nevermore27 (talk) 13:58, 4 June 2024 (UTC)