Ranking minority member
Encyclopedia
In United States politics
, the term ranking minority member refers to the most senior member of a congressional
or state legislative committee
from the minority party. This position is sometimes referred to as ranking member
. On many committees the ranking minority member, along with the chairman, serves as an ex officio member of all of the committee's subcommittees.
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
, the term ranking minority member refers to the most senior member of a congressional
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
or state legislative committee
Committee
A committee is a type of small deliberative assembly that is usually intended to remain subordinate to another, larger deliberative assembly—which when organized so that action on committee requires a vote by all its entitled members, is called the "Committee of the Whole"...
from the minority party. This position is sometimes referred to as ranking member
Ranking member
In United States politics, a ranking member is the second-most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the majority party. Another usage refers to the most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the minority party. This second usage, often...
. On many committees the ranking minority member, along with the chairman, serves as an ex officio member of all of the committee's subcommittees.