Senate Unanimously Passes Formal Dress Code

The U.S. Senate passed a resolution on Sept. 27 formalizing business attire as the proper dress code for the floor of the chamber by unanimous consent.

This came after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer chose to stop enforcing the unwritten requirement, and Democratic Sen. John Fetterman’s casual dress became a flashpoint in the Capitol.

The bipartisan bill from Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) required that members abide by a real dress code—rather than an unwritten custom—when on the Senate floor, that includes a coat, tie, and slacks for men.