With some pomp and circumstance, and with a great deal of responsibility, the newly elected 112th Congress of the United States has begun 2011 with significant changes in its membership.
In the Senate, Democrats retain a majority, with 51 members (their number is reduced from 56 in the previous Congress). There are 47 Republicans and two Democrat-backing independents in the new Senate.
Democrat Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada continues as majority leader. Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky continues as minority leader.
But there are far bigger changes in the House of Representatives. The previous House had 255 Democrats, with 179 Republicans and one vacancy. But the new House has only 193 Democrats, with a Republican majority of 242 members.
Thus Democrat Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California has shifted from being speaker of the House to minority leader, and Republican Rep. John Boehner of Ohio has become speaker.