The 118th session of Congress was marked by dysfunction and intense partisanship, especially among Republicans in the House. The session saw historic events, including the removal of a House Speaker, government shutdown threats, failed impeachment attempts, and multiple legal issues involving lawmakers. As this turbulent session draws to a close, here’s a breakdown of the 118th Congress by the numbers:
3: The number of House Speakers. Kevin McCarthy started as Speaker in January 2023 but was ousted in October, with Rep. Patrick McHenry briefly stepping in before Rep. Mike Johnson took over.
2: The number of attempts to oust a Speaker. McCarthy’s removal was the first of its kind in history, initiated by Rep. Matt Gaetz. Another attempt to remove Johnson in May failed.
9: The number of failed impeachment attempts. Republicans made several unsuccessful moves to impeach Biden administration officials, including President Biden himself. None gained substantial traction, and the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas was quickly dismissed by the Senate.
1: The number of failed contempt of Congress charges. House Republicans attempted to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt for withholding documents, but it was politically divisive.
4: The number of continuing resolutions passed. These stopgap bills temporarily avoided government shutdowns in September and November 2023 and December 2024.
1: The number of lawmakers expelled. Rep. George Santos of New York was expelled from Congress in December after facing federal charges for financial crimes and fabricating personal details.
2: The number of lawmakers indicted. Rep. Henry Cuellar and Sen. Robert Menendez faced legal challenges while in office, with Menendez later convicted on bribery charges.
1: The number of lawmakers changing party affiliation. Sen. Joe Manchin switched from Democrat to Independent in May 2024, joining Sen. Krysten Sinema, who made a similar move in 2022.
4: The number of independents in the Senate, the most in a single Congress since the 17th Amendment was ratified in 1913.
19,297: The number of bills and resolutions introduced in the House.
994: The number of bills passed by the House.
1,029: The number of bills passed by the Senate.
315: The number of bills passed by both chambers.
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