Members of each major party meet in closed sessions known as
party conferences (or party caucuses) to elect floor leaders,
make committee assignments, and set legislative agendas. The
Democratic Leader serves as chair of the party conference, while
the Republican party separates the positions, electing a
chairperson for the party conference, apart from the Floor
leader. Democratic Conference Chair: Senator Harry Reid
Republican Conference Chair: Senator John Thune See a list of
former Conference Chairs in the History section. The Senate
created Democratic and Republican Policy Committees in 1947.
Until 2000, the Democratic Policy Committee was chaired by the
party floor leader, who also served as chair of the Democratic
Conference. A co-chair position was added in 1989. In the 106th
Congress, the majority leader dropped his co-chair status and
the chair of the policy committee is now an elected post. The
Republican Policy Committee elects its chairperson separate from
the party floor leader. Democratic Policy