Senate Ethics Committee
Select committee
History
Formed February 2, 1977
Succeeded Select Committee on Standards and Conduct
Leadership
Chair James Lankford (R ) Since January3,2025(2025-01-03)Vice Chair Chris Coons (D ) Since January3,2025(2025-01-03)Structure
Seats 6 members
Political parties Majority (3) Republican (3) Minority (3) Democratic (3)Jurisdiction
Meeting place
220 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C.
Website
Rules
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. 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 (1965–66) and later replaced by the Senate Select Committee on Ethics in the 95th Congress (1977–78).
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 Majority Minority James Lankford , Oklahoma, Chair Jim Risch , Idaho Deb Fischer , NebraskaChris Coons , Delaware, Vice Chair Brian Schatz , Hawaii Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire
Chairs List of chairs of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics
Name Party State Start End John Stennis D Mississippi 1965 1974 Howard Cannon D Nevada 1974 1977 Adlai Stevenson III D Illinois 1977 1980 Howell Heflin D Alabama 1980 1981 Malcolm Wallop R Wyoming 1981 1983 Ted Stevens R Alaska 1983 1985 Warren Rudman R New Hampshire 1985 1987 Howell Heflin D Alabama 1987 1992 Terry Sanford D North Carolina 1992 1993 Richard Bryan D Nevada 1993 1995 Mitch McConnell R Kentucky 1995 1997 Bob Smith R New Hampshire 1997 1999 Pat Roberts R Kansas 1999 2001 Harry Reid D Nevada 2001 2003 George Voinovich R Ohio 2003 2007 Barbara Boxer D California 2007 2015 Johnny Isakson R Georgia 2015 2019 James Lankford R Oklahoma 2019 2021 Chris Coons D Delaware 2021 2025 James Lankford R Oklahoma 2025 present
Ranking members Name Party State Start End Wallace Bennett R Utah 1965 1975 Carl Curtis R Nebraska 1975 1977 Jack Schmitt R New Mexico 1977 1979 Malcolm Wallop R Wyoming 1979 1981 Howell Heflin D Alabama 1981 1987 Warren Rudman R New Hampshire 1987 1993 Mitch McConnell R Kentucky 1993 1995 Richard Bryan D Nevada 1995 1997 Harry Reid D Nevada 1997 2001 Pat Roberts R Kansas 2001 2003 Harry Reid D Nevada 2003 2005 Tim Johnson D South Dakota 2005 2007 John Cornyn R Texas 2007 2009 Johnny Isakson R Georgia 2009 2015 Barbara Boxer D California 2015 2017 Chris Coons D Delaware 2017 2021 James Lankford R Oklahoma 2021 2025 Chris Coons D Delaware 2025 present
Historical committee rosters 110th Congress Majority Minority Barbara Boxer , California, Chair Mark Pryor , Arkansas Ken Salazar , ColoradoJohn Cornyn , Texas, Vice Chair Pat Roberts , Kansas Johnny Isakson , Georgia
111th Congress Majority Minority Barbara Boxer , California, Chair Mark Pryor , Arkansas Sherrod Brown , OhioJohnny Isakson , Georgia, Vice Chair Pat Roberts , Kansas Jim Risch , Idaho
112th Congress Majority Minority Barbara Boxer , California, Chair Mark Pryor , Arkansas Sherrod Brown , OhioJohnny Isakson , Georgia, Vice Chair Pat Roberts , Kansas Jim Risch , Idaho
Source: 2011Congressional Record ,
113th Congress Majority Minority Barbara Boxer , California, Chair Mark Pryor , Arkansas Sherrod Brown , OhioJohnny Isakson , Georgia, Vice Chair Pat Roberts , Kansas Jim Risch , Idaho
Source: 2011Congressional Record ,
114th Congress Majority Minority Johnny Isakson , Georgia, Chair Pat Roberts , Kansas Jim Risch , IdahoBarbara Boxer , California, Vice Chair Chris Coons , Delaware Brian Schatz , Hawaii
Source: 2013Congressional Record ,
115th Congress Members of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, 115th Congress
Majority Minority Johnny Isakson , Georgia, Chair Pat Roberts , Kansas Jim Risch , IdahoChris Coons , Delaware, Vice Chair Brian Schatz , Hawaii Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire
116th Congress Majority Minority James Lankford , Oklahoma, Chair Johnny Isakson , Georgia, Chair (served until December 19, 2019) Pat Roberts , Kansas Jim Risch , IdahoChris Coons , Delaware, Vice Chair Brian Schatz , Hawaii Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire
117th Congress Majority Minority Chris Coons , Delaware, Chair Brian Schatz , Hawaii Jeanne Shaheen , New HampshireJames Lankford , Oklahoma, Vice Chair Jim Risch , Idaho Deb Fischer , Nebraska
See also External links () . Legislation activity and reports, Congress.gov .