1) The Senate has ratified a set of power sharing and operational agreements for the 50/50 Senate.

The Senate approved the measures via unanimous consent this afternoon.

The power-sharing pact mirrors the agreement arranged the last time there was a 50/50 Senate in 2001.

2) Two decades ago, Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) and Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle (R-SD) worked out a power-sharing arrangement. Republicans were in the majority to begin the Congress because Vice President Dick Cheney could break ties.

3) Republicans would chair committees. But Democrats, the minority, had equal representation on this panels.

The 2001 measure also included language that if either party fully secured the majority in numbers, they were the majority. T

4) That happened a few months into the Congress when Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-VT) quit the GOP and agreed to caucus with the Democrats.

This accord is similar. The deal did not include a provision guarding against Democrats terminating the legislative filibuster.

5) Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) initially pushed for that. But McConnell abandoned that request after it was clear Democrats lacked the votes to ditch the filibuster.

6) One of the resolutions today formally made Democrats the chairs of Senate committees. The Senate also tapped Sonceria “Ann” Berry as Secretary of the Senate, succeeding GOP appointee Julie Adams.