Dead Presidents

The party leadership — both the majority and minority — assigns their members to committees.  A lot has to do with seniority, but Senators are also usually assigned to committees that they either have experience with (ex: a former soldier being assigned to Armed Services or Veterans Affairs, or an ex-cop being appointed to Homeland Security or a Judiciary sub-committee).  Plus, Senators from certain states want committees that their constituents care about (ex: Agriculture for a Senator from Iowa, or Energy for, say, New Mexico).  You can also earn plum committee assignments by doing political favors.  That’s the game.