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

Critics of the seniority rule are many, and they do make a strong case.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2016

Recall that the chairman of each of the standing committees is chosen according to the seniority rule.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2016

The seniority rule provides that the most important posts in Congress, in both the formal and the party organizations, will be held by those party members with the longest records of service.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2016

If the seniority rule were followed, Southerners would head 30 of the 47 House committees.

From Time Magazine Archive

The seniority rule, by which committee chairmanships went not to ability but to long service, favored mediocrity and second childhood.

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