The U.S. Senate Daily Press Gallery, along with the House Daily Press Gallery, the House and Senate Periodical Press Galleries, the House and Senate radio and Television Galleries, and the Senate Photographers’ Gallery, are the four media galleries of the United States Congress.[1] The Senate Daily Press Gallery is located in the Senate wing of the United States Capitol. The gallery staff assist correspondents generally and maintain their access to Senate proceedings. The gallery includes the press seats that overlook the Senate floor and the surrounding offices where reporters work. Gallery staff track floor action, tally votes, and coordinate coverage of Senate news conferences and hearings.
Journalists operating out of the Press Gallery help members communicate with the public, and provide the public with the ability to observe elected officials throughout the legislative process. In the earliest Congresses, few official documents were kept, so news reports often provided the most comprehensive record of congressional proceedings, even for members themselves. The House and Senate established formal press galleries in 1877.[2]
The Senate Daily Press Gallery operates under Rule XXXIII of the Standing Rules of the United States Senate. Under these rules, the Speaker of the House and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration maintain final authority over all the press galleries.[3][4]