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American Indian Heritage Month
Photo of Senator Robert Owen of Oklahoma

During the month of November, the United States celebrates National American Indian Heritage Month. As part of this annual celebration, the U.S. Senate pays tribute to the many Native Americans who have contributed so much to our nation, including those who have served as U.S. senators.

This Week in Senate History
Gavels
November 17, 1954

From the Senate's earliest years, its presiding officers have used a small, handle-less piece of solid ivory as a gavel. In 1947, as the gavel began to deteriorate, craftsmen added small silver disks to aid in its preservation. In 1954, during a heated late-night debate, Vice President Richard Nixon rapped the ancient gavel for the last time.

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2006 Session Schedule
Scheduled Hearings
Active Legislation
Floor Schedule

Tuesday, Nov 14, 2006


2:15 p.m.: Convene and resume consideration of H.R.5385, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2007


Previous Meeting

Monday, Nov 13, 2006

The Senate convened at  2:00 p.m. and adjourned at  6:02 p.m. No record votes were taken.

Daily Digest (latest issue)

Senate Calendar (latest issue)

Executive Calendar
(latest issue - PDF)

Art in the Senate: A View of the Senate's Past

A handsomely illustrated new publication, The United States Catalogue of Graphic Art, offers a variety of perspectives on the Senate of the 19th and 20th centuries and provides insight into a time quite different than the media-saturated world of today.


Politics has always been a major topic in the press, but limitations in printing technology meant that visuals and engravings were uncommon in the post-Revolutionary War press. However, various innovations during the 19th century in both the printing process and the transportation system allowed for rapid distribution of illustrated magazines providing readers the opportunity to "see" an event within a week, and later within days of it happening.


The approximately 1,000 prints that make up the catalogue are divided into eight thematic chapters: Senate Chamber, Capitol Interior, Capitol Exterior & Grounds, Senate Art, Portraits, Group Portraits, Beyond Capitol Hill, and Political Cartoons & Caricatures. Detailed information is given for each print, including title, creator, date of publication, printing technique, and dimensions. In addition, accompanying approximately 30 prints are short essays giving background and context for the scene, people, or events depicted in the illustration. For the chapter on political cartoons, which includes the work of such notable artists as Thomas Nast and Joseph Keppler there is an introductory essay as well as brief commentaries on 15 cartoons.


This catalogue will undoubtably become a valuable resource for anyone wanting to learn more about the history of the Senate, the Capitol, or American political history.


The catalogue is available through GPO online.



Past Feature Articles:

”We the People:” Celebrating the Constitution

Discover the Senate Desks:  A New Interactive Web Exhibit

Biographical Directory:  Who's Who in Congress

The Senate's First Decade on the Web

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Photo Capitol Hill

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