History of the US Senate

The American Historical Association (AHA) will host a Congressional Briefing offering historical perspectives on how the United States Senate has changed since its establishment. The briefing took place on Thursday, July 24, at 10:00 a.m. ET in Dirksen Senate Office Building Room G-11.

A recording of the briefing is available on C-SPAN’s website. Access the handout developed for the briefing in the AHA’s Resource Library. And C-SPAN Classroom has developed a lesson plan around the briefing.

Panelists Joseph Crespino (Emory Univ.), Joanne B. Freeman (Yale Univ.), and Daniel S. Holt (Senate Historical Office) discussed how the structure, composition, and culture of the Senate has changed over time. AHA executive director Sarah Weicksel will serve as moderator. A breakfast spread and coffee will be served.

The AHA’s Congressional Briefings series seeks to provide Congressional staff members, journalists, and other members of the policy community with the historical context essential to understanding contemporary issues. The sessions are strictly nonpartisan and avoid advancing particular policy prescriptions or legislative agendas.