Author: Bo Erickson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – January brings back-to-back dates for the U.S. Congress as Republicans consolidate power following last November’s election with full control of the Senate, House and White House.
JANUARY 3:
The 119th Congress meets with the swearing in of new members. Republicans hold a narrow 219-215 majority in the House of Representatives. The Senate majority is 53-47, well below the 60-vote threshold needed to advance most bills.
Republican Senator John Thune has already been selected as the Senate Majority Leader, but all eyes will be on the lower house as the House of Representatives votes for the president.
Chairman Mike Johnson is vying to remain in office and is backed by President-elect Donald Trump. However, if only two Republicans vote against Johnson, his presidency could be in jeopardy because he needs a majority in the House to win.
Democrats will nominate Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to challenge Johnson for the presidency, but he is expected to fall short by several votes.
It is always expected that the party with the majority — no matter how thin — will win the position of President of the Assembly.
JANUARY 6:
Exactly four years after an angry mob of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol in an attempt to prevent congressional certification of President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory, Congress will gather once again to certify Trump’s victory in 2024 during a joint session of Congress. Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Trump defeated in the election, will preside over the Electoral College recount in her dual capacity as Senate President.
Hostility like the 2021 Capitol riot is not expected, but Congress has since enacted reforms to the certification process to prevent outside disruption. Trump has promised to pardon some of the defendants on January 6 when he takes office.
JANUARY 7-9:
President Joe Biden declared January 9 a national day of mourning and an official state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29 at the age of 100. Congressional leaders announced that the casket containing Carter’s (NYSE: ) remains will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda from Jan. 7-9, ahead of a state funeral.
JANUARY 20:
Trump will be sworn in on the West Front steps of the Capitol and take office as the 47th president, only the second president to be re-elected after leaving office. Trump is expected to announce dozens of executive actions on his first day in office, from immigration changes to energy decisions.
Once Trump is inaugurated, he will be able to formally nominate his Cabinet picks, and some confirmation votes in the Senate could take place immediately.
