Ranking member facts for kids

In the United States, politics is how the country is run. It involves people making decisions about laws and how society works. A ranking member is a very important person in the US government. They are a senior leader in a special group called a committee.

What is a Ranking Member?

A ranking member is the most experienced person from the minority political party on a congressional or state legislative committee. Think of them as the top leader for their party within that specific committee. They help guide their party's views and actions on the topics the committee handles.

What is a Committee?

In the US government, a committee is a small group of lawmakers. These groups focus on specific topics, like education, defense, or the environment. They study issues, hold meetings, and suggest new laws. Both the United States Congress (which makes laws for the whole country) and state legislatures (which make laws for individual states) use committees.

Who are the Majority and Minority Parties?

In politics, the majority party is the one with the most members in a legislative body, like Congress. The minority party has fewer members. The majority party usually has more power because they have more votes. The ranking member always comes from the minority party.

How Do Ranking Members Become Chairmen?

Sometimes, the political parties in charge of the government can change. If the minority party becomes the new majority party, the ranking member of a committee often becomes the new chairman (or chairwoman) of that committee. The chairman is the main leader of the committee. This change is not guaranteed, but it happens a lot. It shows how important the ranking member's experience is.