21.   But he was elected by congressional members of the majority party, not by the country at large.

22.   But Thursday was the first time that the newly powerful House GOP, in the majority party again after four decades, met face-to-face with Clinton.

23.   But this business of a majority party having an extensive, written agenda is so new that Washington has had difficulty understanding its importance.

24.   By all rights, the Republicans should be the majority party now.

25.   By appointing majorities to committees, the majority party can determine the fate of thousands of bills.

26.   By custom, the majority party never allows the minority party to preside over the House.

27.   Clinton will probably go to California, where the Democrats are eying five congressional seats that could help make them the majority party in the House.

28.   Currently, the majority party of each house draws the lines for that house.

29.   Democrats do, however, have wide powers as the majority party to decide what legislation comes to the floor for a vote and what hearings are scheduled.

30.   Democrats who had spent decades in the majority party suddenly found themselves in the less influential minority.