112th United States Congress

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 met in Washington, D.C. and ended 17 days before the end of the presidential term to which Barack Obama was elected in 2008.

Senators elected in 2006 finished their terms during this Congress. This Congress was special because the House of Representatives and the Senate were controlled by different parties for the first time since the 107th Congress (2001–2003). The Republican Party won the majority in the House after the 2010 midterm elections, while the Democrats kept control of the Senate, though with fewer seats than before.

It was also the first Congress since the 36th Congress (1859–1861) where the Republican Party held the House but not the Senate. During this time, the House had the most Republican members, 242, since the 80th Congress (1947–1949). This Congress was unique because it did not include any member of the Kennedy family between the 79th (1945–1947) and the 117th (2021–2023).

As of 2022, this was the last Congress where Democrats held a Senate seat in Nebraska or a House seat in Arkansas. It was also the last time Republicans held both Senate seats in Maine, and the last time Democrats did not hold all seats in Connecticut.

Major events

Main articles: 2011 in the United States, 2012 in the United States, and 2013 in the United States

The 112th United States Congress met from January 2011 to January 2013. During this time, many important events happened. On January 6, 2011, the House of Representatives read a special version of the U.S. Constitution for the first time. Later that month, a shooting happened in Tucson, Arizona, and the Congress paused voting for a week.

In March 2011, the United States joined other countries to help during a conflict in Libya. In May, a military operation led to the death of a leader of a terrorist group. In December 2011, troops left Iraq, ending a long war there. In 2012, important elections were held, and Barack Obama was elected for a second term as president. By the end of 2012, leaders worked to avoid big changes in taxes and spending that could have affected everyone.

Potential government shutdown

Without a plan for how to spend money, the government almost stopped many services in April 2011. Leaders worked hard to find a solution, and finally agreed on a plan to keep things running. Some people worried about the effect on the economy, while others thought it might not matter much. In the end, everyone got their pay, and services continued.

Debt limit crisis

Main article: United States debt-ceiling crisis of 2011

By August 2011, the United States needed to borrow more money to pay its bills, but some leaders did not want to allow this without cutting spending. After many discussions, leaders agreed on a plan to raise the limit and cut some spending, which was signed into law on August 2, 2011.

Major legislation

Main article: List of acts of the 112th United States Congress

The 112th United States Congress passed many important laws. Some of these laws dealt with the country's budget, trade agreements with other countries, and changes to how businesses can start and grow. Other laws focused on national defense, taxes, and protecting important public places.

Here are a few of the laws they passed:

• The 2011 United States federal budget set spending for the year.
• The Budget Control Act of 2011 aimed to control government spending.
• The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act changed how inventions are protected.
• Laws like the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act helped create better trade deals with other countries.
• The National Defense Authorization Act provided money for the military.
• The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 made changes to tax laws to help the economy.

Many other laws were proposed but did not become official, such as the American Jobs Act and the Respect for Marriage Act. These ideas were discussed but did not pass both houses of Congress.

Party summary

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

Senate

House of Representatives

Leadership

The 112th United States Congress had important leaders in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

In the Senate, Joe Biden served as the President, and Daniel Inouye was the President pro Tempore until December 17, 2012, after which Patrick Leahy took over. The Majority Leader was Harry Reid, while Mitch McConnell served as the Minority Leader.

In the House of Representatives, John Boehner was the Speaker. The Majority Leader was Eric Cantor, and the Minority Leader was Nancy Pelosi.

Members

For the first time in history, more than half of the people in Congress were very wealthy by 2012. The average wealth of Democrats was about $1.04 million, and the average wealth of Republicans was about $1.00 million.

In this Congress, senators in Class 1 had to run for re-election in 2012. Senators in Class 2 had to run again in 2014, and those in Class 3 would run in 2016.

Senate

Main article: List of United States senators in the 112th Congress

House of Representatives

Main article: List of United States representatives in the 112th Congress

For maps of areas that each representative serves, see List of United States congressional districts.

Contents

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming
• Non-voting members

Changes in membership

Senate

House of Representatives

See also: List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives

Committees

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

• Deficit Reduction (Select)— Co-chairs: Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R), Sen. Patty Murray (D)
• Economic— Chair: Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D), Ranking: Rep. Kevin Brady (R)
• Inaugural Ceremonies (Special)— Chair: Sen. Chuck Schumer (D), Ranking: Sen. Lamar Alexander (R)
• The Library— Chair: Sen. Chuck Schumer (D), Ranking: Rep. Gregg Harper (R)
• Printing— Chair: Rep. Gregg Harper (R), Ranking: Sen. Chuck Schumer (D)
• Taxation— Chair: Rep. Dave Camp (R), Ranking: Sen. Max Baucus (D)

Caucuses

Main article: Caucuses of the United States Congress

The caucuses are groups of members of Congress who come together based on shared interests or backgrounds. These groups can help shape discussions and decisions in the United States Congress.

Employees

Legislative branch agency directors

• Architect of the Capitol: Stephen T. Ayers
• Attending Physician of the United States Congress: Brian Monahan
• Comptroller General of the United States: Eugene Louis Dodaro
• Director of the Congressional Budget Office: Douglas W. Elmendorf
• Librarian of Congress: James H. Billington
• Public Printer of the United States: William J. Boarman, until January 3, 2012
  • Davita Vance-Cooks, from January 3, 2012

Senate

• Chaplain: Barry C. Black (Seventh-day Adventist)
• Curator: Diane K. Skvarla
• Historian: Richard A. Baker
• Parliamentarian: Alan Frumin, until February 2, 2012
  • Elizabeth MacDonough, from February 2, 2012
• Secretary: Nancy Erickson
• Sergeant at Arms: Terrance W. Gainer
• Secretary for the Majority: Gary B. Myrick
• Secretary for the Minority: David J. Schiappa

House of Representatives

• Chaplain: Daniel Coughlin (Roman Catholic), until April 14, 2011
  • Patrick J. Conroy (Roman Catholic), from May 25, 2011
• Chief Administrative Officer: Daniel J. Strodel
• Clerk: Karen L. Haas
• Historian: Matthew Wasniewski
• Parliamentarian: John V. Sullivan, until 2012
  • Thomas Wickham Jr., from 2012
• Reading Clerks: Susan Cole (R) and Joseph Novotny (D)
• Sergeant at Arms: Wilson Livingood, until January 17, 2012
  • Paul D. Irving from January 17, 2012
• Inspector General: Theresa M. Grafenstine