112th_Congress

112th United States Congress

112th United States Congress

2011–2013 meeting of U.S. legislature

The 112th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, from January 3, 2011, until January 3, 2013. It convened in Washington, D.C., on January 3, 2011, and ended on January 3, 2013, 17 days before the end of the presidential term to which Barack Obama was elected in 2008. Senators elected to regular terms in 2006 completed those terms in this Congress. This Congress included the last House of Representatives elected from congressional districts that were apportioned based on the 2000 census.[1][2]

Quick Facts January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013, Members ...
House of Representatives member pin for the 112th U.S. Congress

In the 2010 midterm elections, the Republican Party won the majority in the House of Representatives. While the Democrats kept their Senate majority, it was reduced from the previous Congress.[3]

This was the first Congress in which the House and Senate were controlled by different parties since the 107th Congress (2001–2003), and the first Congress to begin that way since the 99th Congress (1985–1987).[citation needed] It was also the first Congress since the 36th Congress, over 150 years, in which the Republican Party held the House but not the Senate. In this Congress, the House of Representatives had the largest number of Republican members, 242, since the 80th Congress (1947–1949).[4] This was the only Congress between the 79th (1945–1947) and the 117th (2021–2023) that did not include a member of the Kennedy family.

As of 2022, this is the most recent Congress in which Democrats held a Senate seat in Nebraska or a House seat in Arkansas, the last in which Republicans held both Senate seats in Maine, and the last in which Democrats did not hold all seats in Connecticut.

Major events

President Obama delivered the 2011 State of the Union Address on January 25, 2011
After delivering the 2012 State of the Union Address on January 24, 2012, President Obama embraces Representative Gabby Giffords, who had been shot the previous year.
Main articles: 2011 in the United States, 2012 in the United States, and 2013 in the United States

Potential government shutdown

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A failure to pass a 2011 federal budget nearly led to a shutdown of non-essential government services on April 9, 2011, with the furlough of 800,000 government employees appearing imminent.[9] President Obama met Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker John Boehner in the days preceding the deadline but was unable to come to an agreement to pass a budget.[citation needed] A one-week budget was proposed to avoid a government shutdown and allow more time for negotiations; however, proposals from both parties could not be accommodated.[citation needed] Obama said he would veto a proposed Republican budget over Republican social spending cuts.[citation needed] This was also backed by Senate Democrats who objected to such cuts as that of Planned Parenthood.[10][11][12] However, an agreement was reached between the two parties for a one-week budget to allow for more time to negotiate after Republicans dropped their stance on the Planned Parenthood issue.[11] The two parties ultimately agreed on a 2011 federal budget the following week.[citation needed]

There were many reactions to the possible shutdown with some saying the economy could be hurt during a fragile recovery[13] and others saying the lack of an unnecessary bureaucracy would not be noticed.[14] There was also criticism that while senators and representatives would continue to get paid others such as the police and military personnel would either not be paid for their work or have their payments deferred.[15]

Debt limit crisis

Speaker Boehner meeting with President Obama at the White House during the 2011 debt ceiling crisis
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Main article: United States debt-ceiling crisis of 2011

On August 2, 2011, the United States public debt was projected to reach its statutory maximum. Without an increase in that limit the U.S. Treasury would be unable to borrow money to pay its bills. Although previous statutory increases have been routine, conservative members of the House refused to allow an increase without drastically reducing government spending. Over several weeks and months, negotiators from both parties, both houses, and the White House worked to forge a compromise. The compromise bill, the Budget Control Act of 2011, was enacted on August 2.

Major legislation

Enacted

Main article: Acts of the 112th United States Congress

Proposed

See also: Active Legislation, 112th Congress, via senate.gov

Party summary

Resignations and new members are discussed in the "Changes in membership" section, below.

Senate

Final Senate Membership
     51 Democrats
     47 Republicans

     2 Independents, caucusing with Democrats
More information Party (shading indicates majority caucus), Total ...

House of Representatives

Final House Membership
     191 Democrats
     240 Republicans

     4 Vacant
More information Party (Shading indicates majority caucus), Total ...

Leadership

Section contents: Senate: Majority (D), Minority (R) • House: Majority (R), Minority (D)

Senate

Senate President
Joe Biden (D)
Senate President pro Tempore
Daniel Inouye (D)
(until December 17, 2012)
Patrick Leahy (D)
(from December 17, 2012)

Majority (Democratic) leadership

Minority (Republican) leadership

House of Representatives

Speaker of the House
John Boehner (R)

Majority (Republican) leadership

Minority (Democratic) leadership

Members

For the first time in the history of Congress, over half its members were millionaires as of 2012; Democrats had a median net worth of $1.04 million, while the Republicans median was "almost exactly" $1.00 million.[21][22] In this Congress, Class 1 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 2012; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 2014; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 2016.

Senate

House of Representatives

For maps of congressional districts, see List of United States congressional districts.

Changes in membership

Senate

More information State (class), Vacated by ...

House of Representatives

See also: List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives
More information District, Vacated by ...

Committees

[ Section contents: Senate, House, Joint ]

Senate

Main article: List of United States Senate committees

House of Representatives

Main article: List of United States House of Representatives committees

Joint appointments

Main article: List of United States congressional joint committees

Caucuses

Main article: Caucuses of the United States Congress

Employees

Legislative branch agency directors

Senate

House of Representatives

See also

Elections

Membership lists

Notes

  1. The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) and the North Dakota Democratic-Nonpartisan League Party (D-NPL) are the Minnesota and North Dakota affiliates of the U.S. Democratic Party and are counted as Democrats.
  2. When seated or oath administered, not necessarily when service began.

References

  1. [1]
    Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 111–289 (text) (PDF)
  2. [2]
    Senate Calendar for January 20, 2012.
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    "US troops complete their withdrawal from Iraq". Herald Sun. Australia. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
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    Steinhauer, Jennifer (January 24, 2013). "Senator Unveils Bill to Limit Semiautomatic Arms". The New York Times. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
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    Rowley, James (April 7, 2011). "U.S. Government Shutdown Threatens 800,000 People As Obama Seeks Solution". Bloomberg. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
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    "US budget talks remain deadlocked". Al Jazeera. April 8, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
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    Davis, Julie Hirschfeld; Faler, Brian (April 9, 2011). "Wrangle Over U.S. Budget Compromise Defines Next Two Years' Fiscal Debate". Bloomberg. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
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    "Pres. Obama and Congressional Leaders Reach Budget Deal". C-SPAN. April 8, 2011. Archived from the original on April 14, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
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    Dodge, Catherine; Goldman, Julianna (April 8, 2011). "Long Government Shutdown Would Harm U.S. Economy, Hit Washington Hardest". Bloomberg. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
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    "Editorial: Government shutdown survival guide". The Washington Times. April 7, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
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    Goldman, Julianna (April 7, 2011). "Boehner Gets Paid While Soldiers Wait When Congress Shuts Down Government". Bloomberg. Retrieved May 10, 2011. Members of Congress 'shouldn't be getting paid, just like federal employees shouldn't be getting paid' during a shutdown, Boehner said today on ABC's 'Good Morning America'
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    2012 Congressional Record, Vol. 158, Page H7467 (December 30, 2012)
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    Scott's appointment took effect January 2, 2013, upon his resignation from the House of Representatives; he took the oath of office on January 3, 2013.
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    "Giffords resigns House seat to focus on recovery". Associated Press. January 25, 2012.
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  52. [52]
    S.Res. 5, 112th Congress
  53. [53]
    H.Res. 1, Electing officers of the House of Representatives, 112th Congress
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  56. [56]
    Sergeant at Arms-United States House of Representatives
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    See: Rules of the House: "Other officers and officials" Archived June 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine

Further reading
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