United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics


The U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics is a Select or special [committee (United States Congress)|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. However, the chair always comes from the majority party. The leading committee member of the minority party is referred to as the Vice Chair 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.

Members, 119th Congress

MajorityMinority

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

    List of chairs of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics
    NamePartyStateStartEnd
    DMississippi19651974
    DNevada19741977
    DIllinois19771980
    DAlabama19801981
    RWyoming19811983
    RAlaska19831985
    RNew Hampshire19851987
    DAlabama19871992
    DNorth Carolina19921993
    DNevada19931995
    RKentucky19951997
    RNew Hampshire19971999
    RKansas19992001
    DNevada20012003
    ROhio20032007
    DCalifornia20072015
    RGeorgia20152019
    ROklahoma20192021
    DDelaware20212025
    ROklahoma2025present

    Historical committee rosters

    112th Congress

    Source:

    113th Congress

    Source:

    114th Congress

    Source:

    115th Congress

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

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