seniority rule

American  

noun

U.S. Politics.

1. the custom in Congress providing for the assignment of a committee chairpersonship to that member of the majority party who has served on the committee the longest.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

seniority rule

Whatever the arguments against the seniority rule, it is unlikely to be eliminated.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2016

The seniority rule is, in fact, an unwritten custom.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2016

Defenders of the seniority rule argue that it ensures that a powerful and experienced member will head each committee.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2016

The charge grows out of seniority rule, long common in large mass-production industries.

From Time Magazine Archive

And in any case the seniority rule will be severely tested in the Senate.

From Behind the Mirrors The Psychology of Disintegration at Washington by Clinton W. (Clinton Wallace) Gilbert