What is the majority leader?

The majority leader is the head of the political party with the most members in a chamber of Congress, holding significant power to set the legislative agenda. There are two majority leaders: the Senate Majority Leader and the House Majority Leader. The Senate Majority Leader is widely considered the more powerful of the two, since the Speaker of the House holds the top position in the House.

The Senate Majority Leader controls which bills come to the Senate floor and when, manages the legislative calendar, and serves as the chief spokesperson for the majority party. Recent Senate Majority Leaders have included Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who held the role for several Congresses, and Chuck Schumer of New York, who succeeded McConnell after the 2020 elections. The Senate Majority Leader's power comes largely from tradition and from the Senate's tradition of recognizing the leader first when seeking the floor, rather than from formal constitutional authority.

The leader uses this prerogative to call up bills, offer amendments, and shape debate. In the House, the Majority Leader is the second-ranking member of the majority party, after the Speaker. The House Majority Leader assists the Speaker in scheduling legislation, building support for bills, and coordinating party strategy.

Both majority leaders are elected by their party caucuses at the start of each Congress, not by the full chamber. They are accountable to their caucus members and can be replaced if the caucus loses confidence.

The role of majority leader emerged in the early 20th century as parties became more organized in Congress. Before that, leadership was less formalized. The position is not mentioned in the Constitution.

The Senate Majority Leader's powers have grown over time as the chamber's procedural rules have become more complex. The current 60-vote threshold required to end most filibusters means that the Senate Majority Leader must work closely with the Senate Minority Leader to advance legislation, even when their party holds the majority.