Congressional Constitution Caucus Explained

Colorcode:
  1. E91D0E
Country:United States
Leader1 Title:Chairman
Leader1 Name:None
Position:Right-wing
Founded:[1]
Founders:Scott Garrett
Virginia Foxx
Rob Bishop
Seats2 Title:Seats in the House
Seats1 Title:Seats in the Senate
Website:Official Caucus Website

The Congressional Constitution Caucus is a congressional caucus made up of 41 members of the United States Congress. The caucus was founded in 2005;[2] it had 37 members the first year it was founded.

The group was founded and formerly led by Republican U.S. Representative Scott Garrett of New Jersey,[3] [4] who sought to push the Republican Party leadership to move increasingly to the right.[3]

Electoral results

House of Representatives

Election yearOverall seatsRepublican seats±
2004
2012+39
2016-8
2018-28
-14

History

The Caucus was informally created by Representatives J. D. Hayworth, John Shadegg, Sam Brownback, Bob Barr, and Richard Pombo in the 104th Congress. According to the group, its purpose was to encourage constitutional debate in Congress and the nation and, in time, to restore constitutional government.[5]

The Caucus was officially registered as a Congressional Member Organization in 2005 by Congressmen Scott Garrett, Virginia Foxx, and Rob Bishop. In a 2006 interview, the three described themselves as leading "...a team dedicated to downsizing the amount of power usurped from the states by the federal government."[6]

In 2011, the group's membership grew rapidly following the entrance of new Tea Party-aligned members elected in the 2010 elections.[3] In 2011, the Caucus and the Tea Party Caucus jointly sponsored a closed-door speech to the caucuses by Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on the topic of "separation of powers."[7]

At its peak in the 113th Congress, the Congressional Constitution Caucus had 76 members. However, the caucus possessed over 100 members when it existed informally in the 104th Congress.[5]

Ideology and political issues

The members of the Caucus are strongly opposed to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and are outspoken opponents of the individual health mandate.[8] The group has supported constitutional challenges to the ACA. In 2014, after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia rejected one such challenge in the case Sissel v. United States Department of Health & Human Services (ruling that the ACA did not violate the Origination Clause of the Constitution),[9] the Caucus issued a statement saying "The judges got it wrong."[10]

According to the founders of the Caucus, the main focus of the Caucus is to "ensure the federal government is operating under the intent of the 10th Amendment of our Bill of Rights." The Caucus has worked towards this goal through sponsoring legislation like H.R. 3449, H.R. 1227, and H.R. 1229.[6]

Membership

As of the 117th Congress, the Congressional Constitution Caucus has 41 members. 41 in the House, and 0 in the Senate. The current members of the Caucus are listed below, listed by state.[11]

Leadership

Current members

Last updated: January 4, 2021

Former members

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About Us. English. Congressional Constitution Caucus. November 29, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20180614044928/https://congressionalconstitutioncaucus-garrett.house.gov/about-us/membership. June 14, 2018. dead.
  2. News: Hooper. Molly K.. Constitution is this year's big best-seller. English. November 29, 2016. The Hill. May 21, 2010.
  3. Ramond Hernandez, Still an Ideological Oddity in New Jersey, but a Rising Force in His Party, The New York Times (April 18, 2011).
  4. Jonathan Allen, Hill on Libya: Big bark, little bite, Politico (March 23, 2017).
  5. Web site: CATO Handbook for Congress. Cato Institute. English. 22. April 27, 2017.
  6. Web site: Congressional Caucus Defends Tenth Amendment. humanevents.com. May 10, 2006. March 11, 2017.
  7. Web site: Justice Scalia set to address Tea Party Caucus on Capitol Hill. CNN. January 21, 2011.
  8. Web site: Individual Mandate Press Release. Congressional Constitution Caucus. English. March 17, 2017.
  9. Web site: DC Court of Appeals ruling on Sisel vs. HHS. DC Circuit Court of Appeals. English. April 25, 2017.
  10. Web site: Garrett Statement on Court of Appeals ruling gutting the Origination Clause. The Congressional Constitution Caucus. July 30, 2014. April 25, 2017. English.
  11. Web site: Membership of the Congressional Constitution Caucus. March 11, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180614044928/https://congressionalconstitutioncaucus-garrett.house.gov/about-us/membership. June 14, 2018. dead.
  12. News: Shadegg will not seek reelection. The Arizona Republic. Norowick . Dan. January 15, 2010. English. April 27, 2017.
  13. Club for Growth backs Marlin Stutzman in second play for Indiana Senate Win. The Washington Examiner. July 20, 2015. April 25, 2017.
  14. Web site: On the Hill, NY Times praises Sen. Vitter and Rodney Alexander casts his last vote. Nola.com. September 27, 2013. April 25, 2017.
  15. Web site: Florida Election Results. November 7, 2014. April 25, 2017.
  16. News: Ornstein. Norman. The Exodus of Problem Solvers on Capitol Hill. The National Journal. February 26, 2014. April 25, 2017.
  17. Web site: Georgia Senate Runoff: Broun, Gingrey Leave Conservative Hole in House. 218. May 21, 2014. April 25, 2017.
  18. Web site: Congressman John Campbell Retiring. OC Political. June 27, 2013. April 26, 2017.
  19. Web site: Holding Defeats Ellmers in 2nd Congressional District. WNCN. June 7, 2016. April 26, 2017. August 17, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170817121946/http://wncn.com/2016/06/07/ellmers-in-3rd-holding-with-commanding-lead-in-district-2-race/. dead.
  20. News: Rep. Fleming officially enters Louisiana Senate race. The Shreveport Times. Deborah Barfield Berry. December 7, 2015. April 26, 2017.
  21. Web site: Former Rep John Fleming to join HHS under Trump. Press Herald. March 21, 2017. April 26, 2017.
  22. Web site: 2014 Georgia Primary Elections. AP. May 22, 2014. April 26, 2017.
  23. News: Tea Party's Tim Huelskamp ousted by challenger Roger Marshall in Kansas congressional race. Kansas City Star. August 2, 2016. April 26, 2017.
  24. Web site: David Jolly drops out of Florida Senate race, possibly clearing way for Marco Rubio. CNN. Kopan. Tal. June 17, 2016. April 25, 2017.
  25. News: Stubson touts Wyoming experience in run for Congress. English. Randall. Doug. January 28, 2016. KGAB AM650. April 28, 2017.
  26. North Carolina-7 David Rouzer(R). The National Journal. April 26, 2017. bot: unknown. https://archive.today/20150106050734/http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/2014-new-members/north-carolina-7-david-rouzer-r-20141104. January 6, 2015.
  27. Web site: Cornyn Crushes Stockman in Texas Primary. Hotair.com. March 4, 2014. April 26, 2017.
  28. News: Babin wins Steve Stockman's Congressional Seat. Beaumont Enterprise. May 24, 2014. April 26, 2017.
  29. News: Jon Runyan won't seek re-election to Congress. English. Friedman. Matt. NJ.com. November 6, 2013. April 27, 2017.
  30. Web site: NFL names Jon Runyan VP of Policy and Rules Administration. https://web.archive.org/web/20160518125106/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000663232/article/nfl-names-jon-runyan-vp-of-policy-and-rules-administration. dead. May 18, 2016. English. National Football Association. May 16, 2016. April 27, 2017.
  31. Web site: Congressman Scott Rigell will not run for reelection. WTKR.com. January 14, 2016. June 3, 2017.
  32. News: Alan Nunnelee, Mississippi congressman, dies at 56. . February 6, 2015. April 26, 2017.
  33. Web site: King. Ledyard. U.S. Rep. Curt Clawson won't seek re-election. The News-Press. May 20, 2016. June 3, 2017.
  34. Web site: GOP chairman John Kline to retire. Marcos. Christina. TheHill. September 3, 2015. June 3, 2017.
  35. Web site: Rep. Joe Pitts will not seek re-election to Congress in 2016 . 69 News . WFMZ-TV . June 3, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160701072524/http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-berks/Local/Rep-Joe-Pitts-will-not-seek-re-election-to-Congress-in-2016/36300742 . July 1, 2016 . dead .
  36. Web site: Congressman Rich Nugent announces intent to step down from Congress . Villages-News.com . 2015-11-02 . June 3, 2017.
  37. Web site: U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer will not seek re-election . KTXS-TV . September 17, 2015 . June 3, 2017.
  38. Web site: Isern. Will. Jeff Miller will not seek re-election. March 10, 2016. June 3, 2017. Pensacola News Journal.
  39. Web site: GOP Congresswoman Candice Miller announces she will not seek reelection in 2016. March 5, 2015. March 5, 2015. Zoe Clark. Michigan Radio.
  40. Web site: RESIGNATION FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES . Congressional Record . December 5, 2016 . January 4, 2017.
  41. Web site: CIA Leadership: Mike Pompeo. https://web.archive.org/web/20170126173359/https://www.cia.gov/about-cia/leadership/mike-pompeo.html. dead. January 26, 2017. CIA. January 24, 2017. April 26, 2017.
  42. Web site: Secretary of Health and Human Services. Department of Health and Human Services.
  43. Web site: Senate Roll Call Vote 68. United States Senate. February 16, 2017. April 27, 2017.
  44. Canon, Scott. Kansas Rep. Lynn Jenkins to leave Congress after this term, won't run for governor, Kansas City Star, January 25, 2017.
  45. Web site: Republicans up 5 seats in race to control Senate. ABC 30. November 5, 2014. April 27, 2017.

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