110th United States Congress

110th United States Congress
Carol M. Highsmith · Public domain · source
Name	110th United States Congress
Term start	January 3, 2007
Term end	January 3, 2009
Vice president	Richard B. Cheney
Speaker	Nancy Pelosi
President pro tempore	Robert C. Byrd
Senate majority	Democratic
House majority	Democratic

110th United States Congress was the federal legislative term of the United States Capitol spanning January 3, 2007, to January 3, 2009, during the second term of George W. Bush and overlapping pivotal events such as the Iraq War, the Global financial crisis of 2008, and the 2008 presidential campaigns of Barack Obama and John McCain. The 110th convened a Democratic majority in both the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, producing landmark actions on appropriations, intelligence oversight, and foreign policy while interacting with institutions such as the Supreme Court of the United States, the Department of Defense, and the Federal Reserve System.

Background and Overview

The 110th emerged after the 2006 elections that saw Democratic gains in contests influenced by controversies like the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse revelations, the Plame affair, and debates over the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002; those elections shifted control from the Republican Party (United States) to the Democratic Party (United States), affecting relationships with the White House and agencies including the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. Legislative priorities reflected tensions among proponents of the No Child Left Behind Act, advocates linked to the AARP, and interest groups such as the Sierra Club and AFL–CIO, while foreign policy disputes involved actors like Hillary Rodham Clinton, John McCain, and Joseph Biden.

Membership and Leadership

The Senate leadership comprised Majority Leader Harry Reid, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Majority Whip Dick Durbin, and Minority Whip Trent Lott, with long-serving members such as President pro tempore Robert C. Byrd and committee chairs including Arlen Specter and Dianne Feinstein. The House leadership featured Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Majority Whip James Clyburn, Minority Leader John Boehner, and Minority Whip Roy Blunt; notable representatives included Mike Pence, Paul Ryan, Dennis Hastert, and freshman lawmakers like Rahm Emanuel and Kyrsten Sinema. Members' caucuses and delegations spanned institutions and states such as California's 7th congressional district, Texas's 22nd congressional district, and territories represented by delegates linked to Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.

Major Legislation and Actions

Significant enactments included the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 discussions, the passage of appropriation measures tied to the Iraq War funding debates, and oversight resolutions concerning the National Security Agency and CIA warrantless surveillance programs, intersecting with rulings and filings before the United States Supreme Court. The Congress advanced legislation on issues touched by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 debates, enacted provisions affecting the Internal Revenue Service, and voted on bills influenced by stakeholders such as Goldman Sachs, General Motors, and labor unions like the Service Employees International Union. Select measures addressed energy policy concerns associated with Al Gore advocates and environmental groups including the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Committees and Congressional Organization

Committee leadership and oversight played central roles via panels such as the Senate Judiciary Committee led by Patrick Leahy, the House Ways and Means Committee under Charles Rangel, the Senate Armed Services Committee chaired by Carl Levin, and the House Energy and Commerce Committee chaired by John Dingell. Select and special committees, including the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee with Tom Davis and the Senate Intelligence Committee with Jay Rockefeller, conducted investigations tied to agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of State, coordinating with congressional staff and the Government Accountability Office.

Elections and Political Context

The 2006 midterm results that produced the 110th were shaped by electoral dynamics involving political consultants, media outlets such as The New York Times and Fox News, campaign finance actors tied to the Federal Election Commission, and ballot influences from issues like the Immigration Reform debates and the Affordable Care Act precursor discussions. The 2008 elections that concluded the 110th featured presidential nominees Barack Obama and John McCain, with down-ballot effects on Senate races in states like North Carolina and Minnesota and House contests in districts such as Florida's 16th congressional district.

Major Events and Controversies

High-profile controversies included disputes over the handling of the Iraq War, revelations about torture and detention policies linked to Guantanamo Bay detention camp, contentious confirmations before the United States Senate, and the congressional response to the Financial crisis of 2007–2008 culminating in heated debates over bailout proposals involving financial institutions like Lehman Brothers and Citigroup. Additional flashpoints involved subpoenas and testimonies by figures connected to the Bush administration and inquiries related to the Plame affair and Katrina recovery criticisms that engaged lawmakers from Louisiana and Mississippi.

Category:United States Congresses Category:2007 in American politics Category:2008 in American politics