diff --git a/backend/app/main.py b/backend/app/main.py
index ecce005..79dbf7c 100644
--- a/backend/app/main.py
+++ b/backend/app/main.py
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@
 from app.routers import (
     budget,
     carousel,
+    committees,
     districts,
     events,
     finance,
     health,
+    leadership,
     legislation,
     news,
     pages,
@@ -36,6 +38,8 @@
 app.include_router(health.router)
 app.include_router(news.router)
 app.include_router(senators.router)
+app.include_router(leadership.router)
+app.include_router(committees.router)
 app.include_router(carousel.router)
 app.include_router(districts.router)
 app.include_router(staff.router)
diff --git a/backend/app/routers/committees.py b/backend/app/routers/committees.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7793595
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/routers/committees.py
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, HTTPException
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Session, selectinload
+
+from app.database import get_db
+from app.models import Committee, CommitteeMembership
+from app.schemas import CommitteeDTO
+
+router = APIRouter(prefix="/api/committees", tags=["committees"])
+
+@router.get("/", response_model=list[CommitteeDTO])
+def get_committees(db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
+    committees = (
+        db.query(Committee)
+        .options(
+            selectinload(Committee.memberships)
+            .selectinload(CommitteeMembership.senator)
+        )
+        .filter(Committee.is_active)
+        .order_by(Committee.name)
+        .all()
+    )
+
+    result = []
+    for committee in committees:
+        members = []
+        for membership in committee.memberships:
+            senator = membership.senator
+            committees_list = [
+                {
+                    "committee_id": membership.committee.id,
+                    "committee_name": membership.committee.name,
+                    "role": membership.role
+                }
+            ]
+            members.append({
+                "id": senator.id,
+                "first_name": senator.first_name,
+                "last_name": senator.last_name,
+                "email": senator.email,
+                "headshot_url": senator.headshot_url,
+                "district_id": senator.district,
+                "is_active": senator.is_active,
+                "session_number": senator.session_number,
+                "committees": committees_list
+            })
+        result.append({
+            "id": committee.id,
+            "name": committee.name,
+            "description": committee.description,
+            "chair_name": committee.chair_name,
+            "chair_email": committee.chair_email,
+            "is_active": committee.is_active,
+            "members": members
+        })
+
+    return result
+
+@router.get("/{id}", response_model=CommitteeDTO)
+def get_committee(id: int, db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
+    committee = (
+        db.query(Committee)
+        .options(
+            selectinload(Committee.memberships)
+            .selectinload(CommitteeMembership.senator)
+        )
+        .filter(Committee.id == id)
+        .first()
+    )
+
+    if not committee:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Committee not found")
+
+    members = []
+
+    for membership in committee.memberships:
+        senator = membership.senator
+
+        members.append({
+            "id": senator.id,
+            "first_name": senator.first_name,
+            "last_name": senator.last_name,
+            "email": senator.email,
+            "headshot_url": senator.headshot_url,
+            "district_id": senator.district,
+            "is_active": senator.is_active,
+            "session_number": senator.session_number,
+            "committees": [
+                {
+                    "committee_id": membership.committee.id,
+                    "committee_name": membership.committee.name,
+                    "role": membership.role
+                }
+            ]
+        })
+
+    return {
+        "id": committee.id,
+        "name": committee.name,
+        "description": committee.description,
+        "chair_name": committee.chair_name,
+        "chair_email": committee.chair_email,
+        "members": members,
+        "is_active": committee.is_active
+    }
diff --git a/backend/app/routers/leadership.py b/backend/app/routers/leadership.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..73b658c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/routers/leadership.py
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, HTTPException
+from sqlalchemy import func
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
+
+from app.database import get_db
+from app.models import Leadership
+from app.schemas import LeadershipDTO
+
+router = APIRouter(prefix="/api/leadership", tags=["leadership"])
+
+
+def _current_session(db: Session) -> int:
+    """Return the highest session_number in the leadership table."""
+    result = db.query(func.max(Leadership.session_number)).scalar()
+    return result or 1
+
+@router.get("/", response_model=list[LeadershipDTO])
+def get_leadership(session_number: int | None = None, db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
+
+    target_session = session_number if session_number is not None else _current_session(db)
+    query = db.query(Leadership).filter(Leadership.session_number == target_session)
+
+    leadership = query.order_by(Leadership.title).all()
+
+    # dynamically add is_current based on is_active
+    for leader in leadership:
+        leader.is_current = leader.is_active
+        leader.photo_url = leader.headshot_url
+
+    return leadership
+
+
+@router.get("/{id}",  response_model=LeadershipDTO)
+def get_leadership_by_id(id: int, db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
+
+    leadership = (
+        db.query(Leadership)
+        .filter(Leadership.id == id)
+        .first()
+    )
+
+    if leadership is None:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Leadership record not found")
+
+    leadership.is_current = leadership.is_active
+    leadership.photo_url = leadership.headshot_url
+
+    return leadership
diff --git a/backend/app/routers/news.py b/backend/app/routers/news.py
index 39169c4..a14a742 100644
--- a/backend/app/routers/news.py
+++ b/backend/app/routers/news.py
@@ -29,9 +29,9 @@
 
 
 def _news_to_dict(news: News) -> dict[str, Any]:
-    """Convert a News ORM row to a dict compatible with PR #37's NewsDTO.
+    """Convert a News ORM row to a dict compatible with NewsDTO.
 
-    PR #37's NewsDTO expects a field called ``admin`` (not ``author``) so we
+    NewsDTO expects a field called ``admin`` (not ``author``) so we
     remap the relationship here rather than in the model.
     """
     return {
@@ -42,9 +42,7 @@ def _news_to_dict(news: News) -> dict[str, Any]:
         "image_url": news.image_url,
         "date_published": news.date_published,
         "date_last_edited": news.date_last_edited,
-        # PR #37's NewsDTO has a computed ``author_name`` field; provide it here
-        # so model_validate() can pick it up once the schema is available.
-        "author_name": f"{news.author.first_name} {news.author.last_name}" if news.author else "Unknown",
+        "admin": news.author,
     }
 
 
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/AccountDTO.py b/backend/app/schemas/AccountDTO.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..51efe33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/AccountDTO.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+from typing import Literal
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
+
+
+class AccountDTO(BaseModel):
+    id: int
+    email: str
+    pid: str
+    first_name: str
+    last_name: str
+    role: Literal["admin", "staff"]
+
+    model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
+
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/BudgetDataDTO.py b/backend/app/schemas/BudgetDataDTO.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ed69796
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/BudgetDataDTO.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import List, Optional
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
+
+
+class BudgetDataDTO(BaseModel):
+    id: int
+    fiscal_year: str
+    category: str
+    amount: float
+    description: Optional[str] = None
+    children: List["BudgetDataDTO"] = []
+
+    model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
+
+
+BudgetDataDTO.model_rebuild()
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/CalendarEventDTO.py b/backend/app/schemas/CalendarEventDTO.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4a215be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/CalendarEventDTO.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+from datetime import datetime
+from typing import Optional
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
+
+
+class CalendarEventDTO(BaseModel):
+    id: int
+    title: str
+    description: str
+    start_datetime: datetime
+    end_datetime: datetime
+    location: Optional[str] = None
+    event_type: str
+
+    model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/CarouselSlideDTO.py b/backend/app/schemas/CarouselSlideDTO.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9b6f722
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/CarouselSlideDTO.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
+
+
+class CarouselSlideDTO(BaseModel):
+    id: int
+    image_url: str
+    overlay_text: str
+    link_url: str
+    display_order: int
+    is_active: bool
+
+    model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
+
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/CommitteeAssignmentDTO.py b/backend/app/schemas/CommitteeAssignmentDTO.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b72f180
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/CommitteeAssignmentDTO.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
+
+
+class CommitteeAssignmentDTO(BaseModel):
+    committee_id: int
+    committee_name: str
+    role: str
+
+    model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/CommitteeDTO.py b/backend/app/schemas/CommitteeDTO.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1ca6f13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/CommitteeDTO.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import List
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
+
+from .SenatorDTO import SenatorDTO
+
+
+class CommitteeDTO(BaseModel):
+    id: int
+    name: str
+    description: str
+    chair_name: str
+    chair_email: str
+    members: List[SenatorDTO]
+    is_active: bool
+
+    model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/DistrictDTO.py b/backend/app/schemas/DistrictDTO.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ab04342
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/DistrictDTO.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+from typing import List, Optional
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
+
+from .SenatorDTO import SenatorDTO
+
+
+class DistrictDTO(BaseModel):
+    id: int
+    district_name: str
+    description: Optional[str] = None
+    senator: Optional[List[SenatorDTO]] = None
+
+    model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/FinanceHearingConfigDTO.py b/backend/app/schemas/FinanceHearingConfigDTO.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a68e8fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/FinanceHearingConfigDTO.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+from datetime import date
+from typing import List, Optional
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
+
+from .FinanceHearingDateDTO import FinanceHearingDateDTO
+
+
+class FinanceHearingConfigDTO(BaseModel):
+    is_active: bool
+    season_start: Optional[date] = None
+    season_end: Optional[date] = None
+    dates: List[FinanceHearingDateDTO]
+
+    model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/FinanceHearingDateDTO.py b/backend/app/schemas/FinanceHearingDateDTO.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b7b46e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/FinanceHearingDateDTO.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+from datetime import date, time
+from typing import Optional
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
+
+
+class FinanceHearingDateDTO(BaseModel):
+    id: int
+    hearing_date: date
+    hearing_time: time
+    location: Optional[str] = None
+    description: Optional[str] = None
+    is_full: bool
+
+    model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/LeadershipDTO.py b/backend/app/schemas/LeadershipDTO.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2589a85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/LeadershipDTO.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+from typing import Optional
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
+
+
+class LeadershipDTO(BaseModel):
+    id: int
+    title: str
+    first_name: str
+    last_name: str
+    email: str
+    photo_url: Optional[str] = None
+    session_number: int
+    is_current: bool
+
+    model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/LegislationActionDTO.py b/backend/app/schemas/LegislationActionDTO.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1dbce0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/LegislationActionDTO.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+from datetime import date
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
+
+
+class LegislationActionDTO(BaseModel):
+    id: int
+    action_date: date
+    description: str
+    action_type: str
+
+    model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/LegislationDTO.py b/backend/app/schemas/LegislationDTO.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3c850ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/LegislationDTO.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+from datetime import date
+from typing import List
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
+
+from .LegislationActionDTO import LegislationActionDTO
+
+
+class LegislationDTO(BaseModel):
+    id: int
+    title: str
+    bill_number: str
+    session_number: int
+    sponsor_name: str
+    summary: str
+    full_text: str
+    status: str
+    type: str
+    date_introduced: date
+    date_last_action: date
+    actions: List[LegislationActionDTO]
+
+    model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/NewsDTO.py b/backend/app/schemas/NewsDTO.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a13cec2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/NewsDTO.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+from datetime import datetime
+from typing import Optional
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict, computed_field
+
+from .AccountDTO import AccountDTO
+
+
+class NewsDTO(BaseModel):
+    id: int
+    title: str
+    summary: str
+    body: str
+    image_url: Optional[str] = None
+    date_published: datetime
+    date_last_edited: datetime
+
+    admin: Optional["AccountDTO"] = None
+
+    model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
+
+    @computed_field
+    @property
+    def author_name(self) -> str:
+        if self.admin:
+            return f"{self.admin.first_name} {self.admin.last_name}"
+        return "Unknown"
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/SenatorDTO.py b/backend/app/schemas/SenatorDTO.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6b5fa3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/SenatorDTO.py
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import List, Optional
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
+
+from .CommitteeAssignmentDTO import CommitteeAssignmentDTO
+
+
+class SenatorDTO(BaseModel):
+    id: int
+    first_name: str
+    last_name: str
+    email: str
+    headshot_url: Optional[str] = None
+    district_id: int
+    is_active: bool
+    session_number: int
+    committees: List[CommitteeAssignmentDTO]
+
+    model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/StaffDTO.py b/backend/app/schemas/StaffDTO.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b320eac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/StaffDTO.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+from typing import Optional
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
+
+
+class StaffDTO(BaseModel):
+    id: int
+    first_name: str
+    last_name: str
+    title: str
+    email: str
+    photo_url: Optional[str] = None
+
+    model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/StaticPageDTO.py b/backend/app/schemas/StaticPageDTO.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a411354
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/StaticPageDTO.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+from datetime import datetime
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
+
+
+class StaticPageDTO(BaseModel):
+    id: int
+    page_slug: str
+    title: str
+    body: str
+    updated_at: datetime
+
+    model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/news.py b/backend/app/schemas/news.py
index b2cb228..c4abc94 100644
--- a/backend/app/schemas/news.py
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/news.py
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 """News schemas — input and output DTOs."""
 
 from datetime import datetime
+from typing import Optional
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict, computed_field
+
+from .account import AccountDTO
 
 
 class NewsDTO(BaseModel):
@@ -11,12 +14,19 @@ class NewsDTO(BaseModel):
     summary: str
     body: str
     image_url: str | None
-    author_name: str
     date_published: datetime
     date_last_edited: datetime
+    admin: Optional[AccountDTO] = None
 
     model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
 
+    @computed_field
+    @property
+    def author_name(self) -> str:
+        if self.admin:
+            return f"{self.admin.first_name} {self.admin.last_name}"
+        return "Unknown"
+
 
 class CreateNewsDTO(BaseModel):
     title: str
diff --git a/backend/requirements.txt b/backend/requirements.txt
index 1beecc7..9829c64 100644
--- a/backend/requirements.txt
+++ b/backend/requirements.txt
@@ -16,3 +16,6 @@ httpx==0.28.1
 pre-commit==3.7.1
 ruff==0.9.3
 junitparser==3.2.0
+
+# Pydantic (ships with fastapi)
+pydantic>=2.8,<3.0.0
diff --git a/backend/tests/routers/conftest.py b/backend/tests/routers/conftest.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..32950f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/routers/conftest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+import pytest
+from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
+from sqlalchemy import create_engine
+from sqlalchemy.orm import sessionmaker
+from sqlalchemy.pool import StaticPool
+
+from app.database import Base, get_db
+from app.main import app
+from app.models import Committee, CommitteeMembership, Leadership, Senator
+
+# --- Setup shared in-memory database ---
+SQLALCHEMY_DATABASE_URL = "sqlite:///:memory:"
+
+engine = create_engine(
+    SQLALCHEMY_DATABASE_URL,
+    connect_args={"check_same_thread": False},
+    poolclass=StaticPool,
+)
+TestingSessionLocal = sessionmaker(autocommit=False, autoflush=False, bind=engine)
+
+# --- Override FastAPI get_db dependency ---
+def override_get_db():
+    db = TestingSessionLocal()
+    try:
+        yield db
+    finally:
+        db.close()
+
+app.dependency_overrides[get_db] = override_get_db
+
+# --- Fixtures ---
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="module")
+def test_db():
+    """Create all tables once per test module."""
+    Base.metadata.create_all(bind=engine)
+    db = TestingSessionLocal()
+    yield db
+    db.close()
+    Base.metadata.drop_all(bind=engine)
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def client(test_db):
+    """FastAPI TestClient using the test_db."""
+    return TestClient(app)
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def seeded_committees(test_db):
+    """Seed test data for committees, senators, and memberships."""
+    # --- Senators ---
+    s1 = Senator(
+        first_name="John",
+        last_name="Doe",
+        email="john@example.com",
+        headshot_url=None,
+        district=1,
+        is_active=True,
+        session_number=2016,
+    )
+    s2 = Senator(
+        first_name="Jane",
+        last_name="Doe",
+        email="jane@example.com",
+        headshot_url=None,
+        district=2,
+        is_active=True,
+        session_number=2025,
+    )
+    test_db.add_all([s1, s2])
+    test_db.commit()
+
+    # --- Committees ---
+    c1 = Committee(
+        name="Finance Committee",
+        description="Handles budget matters",
+        chair_name="John Doe",
+        chair_email="john@example.com",
+        chair_senator_id=s1.id,
+        is_active=True,
+    )
+    c2 = Committee(
+        name="Education Committee",
+        description="Handles education policy",
+        chair_name="Jane Smith",
+        chair_email="jane@example.com",
+        chair_senator_id=s2.id,
+        is_active=False,
+    )
+    test_db.add_all([c1, c2])
+    test_db.commit()
+
+    # --- Memberships ---
+    m1 = CommitteeMembership(senator_id=s1.id, committee_id=c1.id, role="Chair")
+    m2 = CommitteeMembership(senator_id=s2.id, committee_id=c1.id, role="Member")
+    test_db.add_all([m1, m2])
+    test_db.commit()
+
+    yield {"senators": [s1, s2], "committees": [c1, c2], "memberships": [m1, m2]}
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def seeded_leadership(test_db):
+    """Seed test data for leadership."""
+    l1 = Leadership(
+        title="Speaker",
+        first_name="John",
+        last_name="Doe",
+        email="john@example.com",
+        headshot_url=None,
+        is_active=True,
+        session_number=2025,
+    )
+    l2 = Leadership(
+        title="Minority Leader",
+        first_name="Jane",
+        last_name="Smith",
+        email="jane@example.com",
+        headshot_url=None,
+        is_active=False,
+        session_number=2023,
+    )
+    l3 = Leadership(
+        title="Whip",
+        first_name="Alice",
+        last_name="Brown",
+        email="alice@example.com",
+        headshot_url=None,
+        is_active=True,
+        session_number=2025,
+    )
+
+    test_db.add_all([l1, l2, l3])
+    test_db.commit()
+
+    yield {"records": [l1, l2, l3]}
diff --git a/backend/tests/routers/test_committees.py b/backend/tests/routers/test_committees.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8e4da53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/routers/test_committees.py
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+import pytest
+from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
+
+from app.main import app  # your FastAPI app
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def client(test_db):
+    return TestClient(app)
+
+# --- Tests ---
+def test_get_committee_by_id(client, seeded_committees):
+    committee = seeded_committees["committees"][0]
+
+    response = client.get(f"/api/committees/{committee.id}")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+
+    data = response.json()
+    assert data["id"] == committee.id
+    assert data["name"] == "Finance Committee"
+    assert len(data["members"]) == 2
+    roles = {c["role"] for m in data["members"] for c in m["committees"]}
+    assert roles == {"Chair", "Member"}
+
+def test_get_committee_not_found(client, test_db):
+    response = client.get("/api/committees/999")
+    assert response.status_code == 404
+    assert response.json()["detail"] == "Committee not found"
+
+def test_get_all_active_committees(client, seeded_committees):
+    response = client.get("/api/committees/")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+
+    data = response.json()
+    # Only active committees
+    names = [c["name"] for c in data]
+    assert "Finance Committee" in names
+    assert "Education Committee" not in names
diff --git a/backend/tests/routers/test_leadership.py b/backend/tests/routers/test_leadership.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db18eb0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/routers/test_leadership.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+import pytest
+from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
+
+from app.main import app  # your FastAPI app
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def client(test_db):
+    return TestClient(app)
+
+# --- Tests ---
+def test_get_all_active_leadership(client, seeded_leadership):
+    response = client.get("/api/leadership/")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    data = response.json()
+
+    # Only active records should be returned
+    titles = [leader["title"] for leader in data]
+    assert "Speaker" in titles
+    assert "Whip" in titles
+    assert "Minority Leader" not in titles
+
+def test_get_leadership_by_session_number(client, seeded_leadership):
+    response = client.get("/api/leadership/?session_number=2025")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    data = response.json()
+
+    # Should return only records with session_number=2025
+    assert all(leader["session_number"] == 2025 for leader in data)
+    titles = [leader["title"] for leader in data]
+    assert set(titles) == {"Speaker", "Whip"}
+
+def test_get_leadership_by_id_success(client, seeded_leadership):
+    leadership = seeded_leadership["records"][0]  # Speaker
+    response = client.get(f"/api/leadership/{leadership.id}")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    data = response.json()
+    assert data["id"] == leadership.id
+    assert data["title"] == leadership.title
+
+def test_get_leadership_by_id_not_found(client):
+    response = client.get("/api/leadership/999")
+    assert response.status_code == 404
+    assert response.json()["detail"] == "Leadership record not found"
diff --git a/backend/tests/schemas/test_schemas.py b/backend/tests/schemas/test_schemas.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..88dfeeb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/schemas/test_schemas.py
@@ -0,0 +1,298 @@
+from datetime import date, datetime, time
+
+from app.schemas import (
+    AccountDTO,
+    BudgetDataDTO,
+    CalendarEventDTO,
+    CarouselSlideDTO,
+    CommitteeAssignmentDTO,
+    CommitteeDTO,
+    DistrictDTO,
+    FinanceHearingConfigDTO,
+    FinanceHearingDateDTO,
+    LeadershipDTO,
+    LegislationActionDTO,
+    LegislationDTO,
+    NewsDTO,
+    SenatorDTO,
+    StaffDTO,
+    StaticPageDTO,
+)
+
+
+# ------------------------
+# Test CommitteeDTO
+# ------------------------
+def test_committee_dto_serialization():
+    committee_assignment = CommitteeAssignmentDTO(
+        committee_id=1,
+        committee_name="Finance",
+        role="Member"
+    )
+
+    senator = SenatorDTO(
+        id=1,
+        first_name="John",
+        last_name="Doe",
+        email="john@example.com",
+        headshot_url=None,
+        district_id=100,
+        is_active=True,
+        session_number=2026,
+        committees=[committee_assignment]
+    )
+
+    committee = CommitteeDTO(
+        id=10,
+        name="Finance",
+        description="Finance Committee",
+        chair_name="Jane Chair",
+        chair_email="chair@example.com",
+        members=[senator],
+        is_active=True
+    )
+
+    data = committee.model_dump()
+    assert data["id"] == 10
+    assert data["members"][0]["first_name"] == "John"
+
+
+# ------------------------
+# Test NewsDTO with computed field
+# ------------------------
+def test_news_dto_computed_author():
+    admin = AccountDTO(
+        id=1,
+        email="user@example.com",
+        pid="pid123",
+        first_name="Mock",
+        last_name="Admin",
+        role="admin"
+    )
+
+    news = NewsDTO(
+        id=1,
+        title="News Title",
+        summary="Summary",
+        body="Body",
+        image_url=None,
+        date_published=datetime(2026, 3, 3, 10, 0),
+        date_last_edited=datetime(2026, 3, 3, 11, 0),
+        admin=admin
+    )
+
+    data = news.model_dump()
+    assert data["author_name"] == "Mock Admin"
+
+
+# ------------------------
+# Test LeadershipDTO
+# ------------------------
+def test_leadership_dto():
+    leadership = LeadershipDTO(
+        id=1,
+        title="Governor",
+        first_name="Bob",
+        last_name="Leader",
+        email="bob@example.com",
+        photo_url=None,
+        session_number=2026,
+        is_current=True
+    )
+
+    data = leadership.model_dump()
+    assert data["title"] == "Governor"
+    assert data["is_current"] is True
+
+
+# ------------------------
+# Test LegislationDTO
+# ------------------------
+def test_legislation_dto():
+    action = LegislationActionDTO(
+        id=1,
+        action_date=date(2026, 1, 1),
+        description="Introduced",
+        action_type="Bill Introduction"
+    )
+
+    legislation = LegislationDTO(
+        id=1,
+        title="Bill A",
+        bill_number="A123",
+        session_number=2026,
+        sponsor_name="John Sponsor",
+        summary="Summary",
+        full_text="Full text",
+        status="Active",
+        type="Bill",
+        date_introduced=date(2026, 1, 1),
+        date_last_action=date(2026, 1, 2),
+        actions=[action]
+    )
+
+    data = legislation.model_dump()
+    assert data["actions"][0]["description"] == "Introduced"
+
+
+# ------------------------
+# Test CarouselSlideDTO
+# ------------------------
+def test_carousel_slide_dto():
+    slide = CarouselSlideDTO(
+        id=1,
+        image_url="https://example.com/image.png",
+        overlay_text="Overlay",
+        link_url="https://example.com",
+        display_order=1,
+        is_active=True
+    )
+
+    data = slide.model_dump()
+    assert data["overlay_text"] == "Overlay"
+
+
+# ------------------------
+# Test Finance DTOs
+# ------------------------
+def test_finance_hearing_dtos():
+    hearing_date = FinanceHearingDateDTO(
+        id=1,
+        hearing_date=date(2026, 3, 3),
+        hearing_time=time(14, 0),
+        location="Room 101",
+        description="Budget Hearing",
+        is_full=False
+    )
+
+    config = FinanceHearingConfigDTO(
+        is_active=True,
+        season_start=date(2026, 1, 1),
+        season_end=date(2026, 12, 31),
+        dates=[hearing_date]
+    )
+
+    data = config.model_dump()
+    assert data["dates"][0]["location"] == "Room 101"
+
+
+# ------------------------
+# Test StaffDTO
+# ------------------------
+def test_staff_dto():
+    staff = StaffDTO(
+        id=1,
+        first_name="Sally",
+        last_name="Staff",
+        title="Manager",
+        email="sally@example.com",
+        photo_url=None
+    )
+
+    data = staff.model_dump()
+    assert data["title"] == "Manager"
+
+
+# ------------------------
+# Test DistrictDTO
+# ------------------------
+def test_district_dto():
+    senator = SenatorDTO(
+        id=1,
+        first_name="John",
+        last_name="Doe",
+        email="john@example.com",
+        headshot_url=None,
+        district_id=100,
+        is_active=True,
+        session_number=2026,
+        committees=[]
+    )
+
+    district = DistrictDTO(
+        id=1,
+        district_name="District 1",
+        description=None,
+        senator=[senator]
+    )
+
+    data = district.model_dump()
+    assert data["senator"][0]["last_name"] == "Doe"
+
+
+# ------------------------
+# Test BudgetDataDTO recursive
+# ------------------------
+def test_budget_dto_recursive():
+    child_budget = BudgetDataDTO(
+        id=2,
+        fiscal_year="2026",
+        category="Subcategory",
+        amount=100.0,
+        description=None,
+        children=[]
+    )
+
+    parent_budget = BudgetDataDTO(
+        id=1,
+        fiscal_year="2026",
+        category="Main",
+        amount=1000.0,
+        description="Main budget",
+        children=[child_budget]
+    )
+
+    data = parent_budget.model_dump()
+    assert data["children"][0]["category"] == "Subcategory"
+
+
+# ------------------------
+# Test StaticPageDTO
+# ------------------------
+def test_static_page_dto():
+    page = StaticPageDTO(
+        id=1,
+        page_slug="about",
+        title="About Us",
+        body="Content",
+        updated_at=datetime.now()
+    )
+
+    data = page.model_dump()
+    assert data["page_slug"] == "about"
+
+
+# ------------------------
+# Test AccountDTO
+# ------------------------
+def test_account_dto():
+    account = AccountDTO(
+        id=1,
+        email="user@example.com",
+        pid="pid123",
+        first_name="User",
+        last_name="Example",
+        role="admin"
+    )
+
+    data = account.model_dump()
+    assert data["role"] == "admin"
+
+# ------------------------
+# Test CalendarEventDTO
+# ------------------------
+def test_calendar_event_dto():
+    event = CalendarEventDTO(
+        id=1,
+        title="Budget Meeting",
+        description="Discuss budget allocations",
+        start_datetime=datetime(2026, 3, 10, 9, 0),
+        end_datetime=datetime(2026, 3, 10, 11, 0),
+        location="Room 101",
+        event_type="Hearing"
+    )
+
+    data = event.model_dump()
+    assert data["title"] == "Budget Meeting"
+    assert data["start_datetime"] == datetime(2026, 3, 10, 9, 0)
+    assert data["event_type"] == "Hearing"