United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics


The U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics is a select committee of the United States Senate charged with dealing with matters related to senatorial ethics. It is also commonly referred to as the Senate Ethics Committee. Senate rules require the Ethics Committee to be evenly divided between the Democrats and the Republicans, no matter who controls the Senate, although the chairman always comes from the majority party. The leading committee member of the minority party is referred to as Vice Chairman rather than the more common Ranking Member.

History

The Senate Select Committee on Standards and Conduct was first convened in the 89th Congress and later replaced by the Senate Select Committee on Ethics in the 95th Congress.

Membership

Pursuant to Senate Rule 25, the committee is limited to six members, and is equally divided between Democrats and Republicans. This effectively means that either party can veto any action taken by the committee.

Current membership

MajorityMinority

  • Chris Coons, Delaware, Vice Chair
  • Brian Schatz, Hawaii
  • Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire

    • Previous Congresses

    110th Congress

    MajorityMinority

  • John Cornyn, Texas, Vice Chairman
  • Pat Roberts, Kansas
  • Johnny Isakson, Georgia

    • 111th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    • Barbara Boxer, California, Chairwoman
    • Mark Pryor, Arkansas
    • Sherrod Brown, Ohio
  • Johnny Isakson, Georgia, Vice Chairman
  • Pat Roberts, Kansas
  • Jim Risch, Idaho

    • 112th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    • Barbara Boxer, California, Chair
    • Mark Pryor, Arkansas
    • Sherrod Brown, Ohio
  • Johnny Isakson, Georgia, Vice Chair
  • Pat Roberts, Kansas
  • Jim Risch, Idaho
    • Source:

    113th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    • Barbara Boxer, California, Chair
    • Mark Pryor, Arkansas
    • Sherrod Brown, Ohio
  • Johnny Isakson, Georgia, Vice Chair
  • Pat Roberts, Kansas
  • Jim Risch, Idaho
    • Source:

    114th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    • Johnny Isakson, Georgia, Chair
    • Pat Roberts, Kansas
    • Jim Risch, Idaho
  • Barbara Boxer, California, Vice Chair
  • Chris Coons, Delaware
  • Brian Schatz, Hawaii
    • Source:

    115th Congress

    Members of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, 115th Congress
    MajorityMinority

    • Johnny Isakson, Georgia, Chair
    • Pat Roberts, Kansas
    • Jim Risch, Idaho
  • Chris Coons, Delaware, Vice Chair
  • Brian Schatz, Hawaii
  • Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire

    • Chairs

    List of chairs of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics
    ChairPartyStateTerm
    John C. StennisDMississippi1965–1975
    Howard CannonDNevada1975–1977
    Adlai Stevenson IIIDIllinois1977–1980
    Howell HeflinDAlabama1980–1981
    Malcolm WallopRWyoming1981–1983
    Ted StevensRAlaska1983–1985
    Warren RudmanRNew Hampshire1985–1987
    Howell HeflinDAlabama1987–1992
    Terry SanfordDNorth Carolina1992–1993
    Richard BryanDNevada1993–1995
    Mitch McConnellRKentucky1995–1997
    Bob SmithRNew Hampshire1997–1999
    Pat RobertsRKansas1999–2001
    Vacant——2001
    Pat RobertsRKansas2001
    Harry ReidDNevada2001–2003
    George VoinovichROhio2003–2007
    Barbara BoxerDCalifornia2007–2015
    Johnny IsaksonRGeorgia2015–2019
    James LankfordROklahoma2019–present