Parliamentarian of the United States Senate
| Parliamentarian of the United States Senate | |
|---|---|
Senate Majority Leader | |
| Term length | Serves at the pleasure of the Majority Leader |
| Constituting instrument | Standing Rules of the United States Senate |
| Formation | 1935 |
| First holder | Charles L. Watkins |
| Salary | $203,700[1] |
| This article is part of a series on the |
| United States Senate |
|---|
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| History of the United States Senate |
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The Parliamentarian of the United States Senate is the official advisor to the United States Senate on the interpretation of Standing Rules of the United States Senate and parliamentary procedure. Incumbent parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough has held the office since 2012, appointed by then-Senate majority leader Harry Reid.[2]
As the
Overview
An important role of the parliamentarian is to decide what can and cannot be done under the Senate's budget reconciliation process under the provisions of the Byrd Rule.[2] These rulings are important because they allow certain bills to be approved by a simple majority, instead of the sixty votes needed to end debate and overcome a filibuster.
The office also refers bills to appropriate committees on behalf of the Senate's presiding officer, and referees efforts by the ruling party to change the
The parliamentarian's salary is $203,700 per year, as of 2022.[7]
List of parliamentarians
The following individuals have served as Senate parliamentarian:[8]
| No. | Years | Parliamentarian |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1935–1964[9] | Charles L. Watkins[10] |
| 2 | 1964–1974 | Floyd M. Riddick |
| 3 | 1974–1981 | Murray Zweben[11] |
| 4 | 1981–1987 | Robert Dove |
| 5 | 1987–1995 | Alan Frumin |
| 6 | 1995–2001 | Robert Dove |
| 7 | 2001–2012 | Alan Frumin |
| 8 | 2012–present | Elizabeth MacDonough[12] |
There have only been six Senate parliamentarians since the role was founded, with Dove and Frumin each serving two non-consecutive terms.
See also
Notes
- ^ Brudnick, Ida A. (April 11, 2018). "Congressional Salaries and Allowances: In Brief" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ a b Bolton, Alexander (January 31, 2012). "After nearly 20 years, Senate parliamentarian Alan Frumin to retire". The Hill. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
- ^ Young, Jeffrey (February 16, 2010). "Healthcare reform and reconciliation a bad mix, ex-parliamentarian says". The Hill. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
- ^ Walter J. Oleszek (February 23, 2016). Amending Senate Rules at the Start of a New Congress, 1953-1975: An Analysis with an Afterword to 2015 (Report). Congressional Research Service. p. 56. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
His decisions, especially the furor aroused by Rockefeller's recognition practices, triggered such vehement criticism that it created a hostile mood in the chamber.
- ^ "Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller, 41st Vice President (1974-1977)". United States Senate. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
- ^ Dewar, Helen (May 8, 2001). "Key Senate Official Loses Job in Dispute With GOP". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
- ^ "Report of the Secretary of the Senate: April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022" (PDF). GovInfo - U.S. Government Publishing Office. April 11, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- ISBN 978-0-7425-6305-6.
- ^ Heitshusen, Valerie. "Parliamentarian_of_the_United_States_Senate" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
- ^ "First Official Parliamentarian". United States Senate.
- Washington Post. September 24, 2000.
- ^ Rogers, David (February 6, 2012). "Elizabeth MacDonough is Senate's first female parliamentarian". Politico. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
References
- Glossary Term | Parliamentarian Senate.gov
- The Office of the Parliamentarian in the House and Senate Congressional Research Service
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