Senate Seats

Since we're talking politics so much today and since I have heard the phrase "Senate seat" about a million times in 2009 alone thanks to Rod Blagojevich, I thought I'd take a look to see what the actual Senate "seats" look like. I think it's rad that the chairs of Senators have become so representative of the office of a Senator that it is commonplace in the media to hear about Senatorial "musical chairs," or to hear that Harry Reid is blocking Roland Burris from "being seated." Of course, Harry Reid is not blocking Burris from sitting, he is blocking him from joining the Senate ranks and performing the duties of a Senator. Fun with metonyms, eh Pop?

The Curator of the Senate (so glad they have one) discusses the actual Senate chairs on the Art and History section of the Senate's website. This fascinating little section filled me with joy as I learned the following fun facts:

• The chairs are currently made by the Senate Cabinet Shop and are based on the original design (1819) by Thomas Constantine, which are based on Thomas Hope's Household Furniture and Interior Decoration (1807)
• Which means that Thomas Hope's text was so broadly read that it made it across the pond and into not only popular, but high-end commissions within 12 years. Wow.
• Only three of the original chairs still exist (the fourth survivor was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina).
• Senators are able to purchase their chairs at the end of their term.
  

Even more fascinating than the chairs is the story of the Senate desks. Fun facts about Senate desks include:

• Senators sign the inside drawer of their desks during their term and have done so since the early 20th century. The website allows you to drill down and see the legislative graffiti for yourself. I saw Barack's.
• Senators are allowed to change their seating arrangement at the beginning of each new Congress.
• When one party has an overwhelming number of representatives (physically speaking) the rogue party sits together in the back of their opposition's side. This is called a Cherokee Strip.
• There has been a candy desk in the Senate since 1965. Apparently it is on the back row of the Republican side, on the aisle, next to the most used entrance. The most recent seating chart makes Jim Bunning of KY the last Senate candyman who filled his bottom desk drawer with candy.

Politics + Furniture = My Heaven