115th United States Congress

115th United States Congress
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Congress	115th
Session year	2017
Session num	1st
Start	January 3, 2017
End	January 3, 2019
House seats	435
Senate seats	100
House majORITY	Republican
Senate majORITY	Republican
Speaker	Paul Ryan
President pro temp	Orrin Hatch

115th United States Congress was a 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. from January 3, 2017, to January 3, 2019, during the final two years of Barack Obama's presidency and the first two years of Donald Trump's presidency. The Republicans maintained control of both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, with Paul Ryan serving as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and Orrin Hatch as President pro tempore of the United States Senate. The congress also saw the involvement of notable figures such as Mitch McConnell, Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer.

● Composition and Elections

The 115th United States Congress was composed of 435 members in the United States House of Representatives, with 241 Republicans and 194 Democrats, and 100 members in the United States Senate, with 52 Republicans and 46 Democrats, along with 2 Independents who caucused with the Democrats, including Bernie Sanders and Angus King. The elections for the 115th Congress were held on November 8, 2016, with notable candidates including Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Gary Johnson, and Jill Stein. The congress also included notable members such as John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz, and Elizabeth Warren, who were involved in various committees, including the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services and the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

● Major Events

The 115th United States Congress witnessed several significant events, including the Inauguration of Donald Trump, the 2017 Women's March, and the 2017 United States federal budget. The congress also dealt with the aftermath of the 2016 United States presidential election, including the Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections and the subsequent investigation led by Robert Mueller. Additionally, the congress addressed various issues, such as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which was signed into law by Donald Trump on December 22, 2017. Other notable events included the 2018 United States federal budget, the 2018 Winter Olympics, and the March for Our Lives.

● Major Legislation

The 115th United States Congress passed several significant pieces of legislation, including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, and the First Step Act. The congress also considered various other bills, such as the American Health Care Act of 2017, the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, and the Graham-Cassidy Amendment. Notable lawmakers involved in the legislative process included Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer, who played key roles in shaping the congress's legislative agenda. Other important legislation included the VA MISSION Act of 2018, the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, and the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.

● Party Summary

The 115th United States Congress was characterized by a Republican majority in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. The Democrats maintained a significant minority presence in both chambers, with notable members including Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and Bernie Sanders. The congress also included two Independents who caucused with the Democrats. The party dynamics played a crucial role in shaping the congress's legislative agenda and the passage of significant bills, including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and the First Step Act. Other notable parties and organizations involved in the congress included the Libertarian Party (United States), the Green Party of the United States, and the National Rifle Association of America.

● Leadership

The 115th United States Congress was led by notable figures, including Paul Ryan as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and Orrin Hatch as President pro tempore of the United States Senate. The Republican leadership in the United States Senate was headed by Mitch McConnell, while the Democratic leadership was headed by Chuck Schumer. In the United States House of Representatives, the Republican leadership was headed by Kevin McCarthy, and the Democratic leadership was headed by Nancy Pelosi. Other notable leaders included John Cornyn, Roy Blunt, and Steny Hoyer, who played important roles in shaping the congress's legislative agenda and party dynamics. The leadership also included notable figures such as Steve Scalise, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and Jim Clyburn.