Washington ( CNN ) When Democratic senators arrived for their policy lunch this week , several came off the elevators in the Capitol and turned instinctively towards the Mansfield Room , a large and elegant meeting space just off the Senate floor . It was only after walking in on a roomful of lunching Republican senators that the Democrats , to their chagrin , realized that when they lost the majority , they also lost many of the perks of power -- including use of the spacious room that 's hosted Democratic caucuses for the last eight years . `` I 'm going to the wrong caucus , '' Sen. Sherrod Brown , D-Ohio , said with an embarrassed smile as he turned to find the LBJ Room , an equally ornate but tighter room where the smaller 46-member Democratic caucus will now meet . `` Oh , I forgot we were in this room , '' grumbled Sen. Chuck Schumer , a New York Democrat , as he walked into LBJ . The room assignment is just one example of how life will be different for Democrats after a long eight years in the majority -- so long , in fact , that most current Democratic senators have never served in the minority . Gone are coveted committee chairmanships and the enormous influence over legislation , oversight hearings and investigations that go with them . Gone too are committee slots for Democrats , as Republicans beef up GOP control of the committees that will vote to cuts taxes , slash spending , ditch government regulations , and approve other measures that many Democrats oppose . The long weekends Democrats regularly scheduled by taking most Fridays off are also a thing of the past . To boost the Senate 's woeful productivity , GOP leaders are vowing to work five days a week . OPINION : McConnell : How Congress , President Obama can get things done . For Sen. Patrick Leahy , D-Vermont , who during the last Congress served as president pro tempore of the Senate ( the most senior senator from the majority party ) , the change means he 's no longer third in line to the presidency as called for in the Constitution . That change also means he loses the U.S. Capitol Police detail that was assigned drive him and be with him at all times -- arguably a tough perk to give up . Sen. Orrin Hatch , R-Utah , now has that privilege . `` It 's tough . I guarantee it 's tough , '' said Sen. John McCain , with a wry smile when asked how the Democrats will cope getting used to the minority . McCain , who has seen the control of the chamber change several times over his three decades in the Senate , said the hardest part may be that `` you 're used to setting the agenda '' and `` you 're used to reporting out your own legislation . '' Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington , who last year chaired the influential Budget Committee , agreed that `` not setting the agenda '' will be the most frustrating part of not being in the majority . `` But I 've been in the minority before and it 's a great opportunity to outline and fight for the things you care about . '' Democrats recognize they will draw much of their power and relevance over the next two years because there is a Democrat is in the White House who can veto GOP legislation and they can vote to uphold those vetoes . `` Ultimately , when we veer towards the most partisan issues , the White House becomes a major player , '' said Sen. Dick Durbin , the second-ranking Democrat . `` And the President 's veto pen becomes a major element and 34 Democratic senators become decisive , '' he said , referring to the number of Democrats needed to prevent Republicans from overriding a presidential veto . One thing that does n't change with the switch is the location of McConnell 's suite of offices and the suite occupied by the now Minority Leader Harry Reid . Both suites are very large and have gorgeous views down the Mall to the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial . Years ago , the parties decided they would n't go through the labor and expense of moving the leaders ' offices whenever the majority changed . McConnell may regret that now . While Reid 's office is sequestered in a back hallway , largely off limits to the press , McConnell 's office sits in a more public area in the center of the building . That means whenever he leaves his office he will run into the gauntlet of reporters who pester him regularly . While McConnell was in the minority , he was disciplined and tight-lipped , rarely giving a usable quote . But the pressure on him to answer questions is sure to increase now that he 's running the Senate and reporters will be hanging on his every word .
Most Senate Democrats have never been in the minority . New status in Senate will require adjustment for many Democrats .