WASHINGTON, February 6, 2026, 1:00 AM PST — Forget everything you thought you knew about high school cliques. According to Representative Sara Jacobs, the social dynamics of Capitol Hill are strikingly similar, and she’s even had to enforce a “you can’t sit with us” rule in the House of Representatives.
Congressional Subway and Unofficial Seating Charts
The Democratic congresswoman from California revealed the surprisingly stratified world of Congress during a recent interview, explaining that Capitol Hill operates much like a high school with its own set of unwritten rules and established groups. TMZ caught up with Jacobs on Thursday in Washington, D.C., where she detailed the intricacies of Congressional seating arrangements.
In a video clip, Jacobs takes viewers on a tour of the underground Congressional subway, explaining that despite the lack of assigned seating on the House floor, certain groups—like “Penn Corner” and “California Row”—have already claimed their territories, much like students staking out their spots in a school cafeteria.
What determines where a member of Congress sits? Unofficial alliances and established groups dictate seating arrangements on the House floor, creating a social hierarchy reminiscent of high school.
The rules are so firm, Jacobs revealed, that she had to ask a new member of Congress to relocate just that day.
Jacobs likened the entire Congressional experience to a prolonged high school reunion, pointing out the similarities in orientation processes for new members, the lottery-based system for office assignments, and the abundance of “clubs” to join. If high school was the best time of your life, she joked, there’s a sequel waiting on Capitol Hill.
