In a Senate with 49 Dem. seats, 49 GOP seats, and 2 Independents, how can there be "Minorty" and "Majority"?

Question

I know that Lieberman is still counted as a Dem, but he's an Independent now. Technically, this is a split Senate. Do Majority Speaker and Minority Speaker enjoy the same priviledges? If so, this must be a moot point. I haven't seen this once in the news.

Answer 1

Senate leadership isn't determined by how many Senators are members of your party - it's whoever gets the most votes. Because Lieberman and Sanders are expected to vote with the Democrats on all procedural matters, the Dems are the majority party even though, technically, they do not have a majority of the members.

Answer 2

E has a good answer, although technically Lieberman has announced he is officially changing from Independent to Democrat before the next Congress enters its session. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, while techincally a Progressive Socialist, has announced that he will caucus with the Democrats. And, yes, he is in fact the first Socialist to be elected Senator.

Answer 3

The two independents have already said they would caucus with the democrats. Lieberman has said he is still a democrat so there is no surprise there. The guy from Vermont is a socialist (he's said so) so he would tend to be closer to the dems than the reps.

Answer 4

Both independents have said they will caucus with the Democrats, thus giving the Dems the majority. It's not a good thing. The best thing will be when we have a majority of independents who can finally throw the 'Republicrats' out altogether. -RKO-

Answer 5

Both independants will caucus with the democrats so the democrats have the majority. What's interesting to me is one of those independants is a socialist. If either of them were to causcus with the republicans then you'd see a shift in the balalnce of power. I doubt the socialist will.

Answer 6

Both independents caucus with the democrats and therefore are counted as democrats in the Senate.

Answer 7

G.R.W.C. ..... i will assure you that's not the respond you envisioned. sure, Caroline Kennedy is entitled to Hillary's seat... positioned right into a vice, and her fat neck positioned decrease than the blade of a guillotine. think of approximately this: Hillary makes a decision she needs to run for the White homestead, yet then there is that pesky "skills thingy" that the electorate will call for. So she runs for the Senate, understanding finished properly this is in basic terms a formality so she would be able to be better located for figuring out to purchase the Democratic nomination for President. suitable plan, good? Yeah, till John F. Kennedy Jr. desperate he grew to become into going to run for a similar seat. Hillary could not win in contrast guy if he have been outed as gay and a serial killer (neither of which he grew to become into, only making a element). So, very very actual, JFK Jr.'s airplane crashes decrease than mysterious circumstances. only one greater handy death in an entire line of handy deaths surrounding the Clintons. each and every guy or woman who grew to become into an impediment grew to become into eradicated. whilst Vince Foster (who knew too lots) introduced he does not proceed as their lawyer, he "commits suicide" (the day previously his sister grew to become into meant to come back to Washington for a in my opinion guided excursion. particular... happens each and all of the time good?) each and every guy or woman who have been given in Hillary's or bill's way only had some vehicle accident, airplane crash, or committed suicide. handy, handy, handy. I haven't any doubt Hillary had John F. Kennedy Jr.'s airplane sabotaged. So a senate seat in return? particular, why not. Few democrats are qualified besides. can we are saying "Jr. Senator Barack Hussein Obama"?

Answer 8

ind are more likely to side with democrats due to the republicans recent screw ups in allowing bush free reign to do whatever he pleases

Answer 9

Indepoendents are Dems in disguise.