United States Congress (Liberty Lives)

Liberty Lives Main Page

The United States Congress constitutes the legislative branch of the U.S. Government. Congress is made up by the House of Representatives, containing hundreds of representatives elected for two year terms, and the Senate, containing two senators from every state that are chosen for six year terms. Congress is responsible for making the laws of the United States as well as confirming executive appointments and such.

The House of Representatives is led by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, chosen from among the body's members whenever needed. The Senate is led by the President of the Senate, who is chosen from among the Deputy Chiefs of the United States for terms of one year. This article's main purpose is to list all the sessions of Congress, what party controlled them, and who the main leaders were.

1st United States Congress
March 4, 1789-March 4, 1791

Leadership
President of the Senate: Alexander Hamilton (P)

Speaker of the House: Frederick Muhlenburg (P)

2nd United States Congress
March 4, 1791-March 4, 1793

Leadership
President of the Senate: Alexander Hamilton (P)

Speaker of the House: Johnathan Trumbull Jr. (P)

3rd United States Congress
March 4, 1793-March 4, 1795

Leadership
President of the Senate: Alexander Hamilton (P)

Speaker of the House: Frederick Muhlenburg (A)

4th United States Congress
March 4, 1795-March 4, 1797

Leadership
President of the Senate: Alexander Hamilton (F)

Speaker of the House: Jonathan Dayton (F)

5th United States Congress
March 4, 1797-March 4, 1799

Leadership
President of the Senate: Samuel Johnston (F)

Speaker of the House: Jonathan Dayton (F)

6th United States Congress
March 4, 1799-March 4, 1801

Leadership
President of the Senate: Samuel Johnston (F)

Speaker of the House: Theodore Sedgwick (F)

7th United States Congress
March 4, 1801-March 4, 1803

Leadership
President of the Senate: Abraham Baldwin (DR)

Speaker of the House: Nathaniel Macon (DR)

8th United States Congress
March 4, 1803-March 4, 1805

Leadership
President of the Senate: Abraham Baldwin (DR)

Speaker of the House: Nathaniel Macon (DR)

9th United States Congress
March 4, 1805-March 4, 1807

Leadership
President of the Senate: 1805-06: John Breckinridge (DR)

Speaker of the House: Nathaniel Macon (DR)

10th United States Congress
March 4, 1807-March 4, 1809

Leadership
President of the Senate: James Monroe (DR)

Speaker of the House: Joseph Bradley Varnum (DR)

11th United States Congress
March 4, 1809-March 4, 1811

Leadership
President of the Senate: James Monroe (DR)

Speaker of the House: Joseph Bradley Varnum (DR)

12th United States Congress
March 4, 1811-March 4, 1813

Leadership
President of the Senate: James Monroe (DR)

Speaker of the House: Henry Clay (DR)

13th United States Congress
March 4, 1813-March 4, 1815

Leadership
President of the Senate: John Langdon (DR)

Speaker of the House:

1813-14: Henry Clay (DR)

1814-15: Langdon Cheves (DR)

14th United States Congress
March 4, 1815-March 4, 1817

Leadership
President of the Senate: John Langdon (DR)

Speaker of the House: Henry Clay (DR)

15th United States Congress
March 4, 1817-March 4, 1819

Leadership
President of the Senate: Joseph Bradley Varnum (DR)

Speaker of the House: Henry Clay (DR)

16th United States Congress
March 4, 1819-March 4, 1821

Leadership
President of the Senate: George W. Campbell (DR)

Speaker of the House: 1819-20: Henry Clay (DR)

1820-21: John Taylor (DR)

17th United States Congress
March 4, 1821-March 4, 1823

Leadership
President of the Senate: George W. Campbell (DR)

Speaker of the House: Phillip Pendleton Barbour (DR)

18th United States Congress
March 4, 1823-March 4, 1825

Leadership
President of the Senate: George W. Campbell (DR)

Speaker of the House: Henry Clay (DR)

19th United States Congress
March 4, 1825-March 4, 1827

Leadership
President of the Senate: James Barbour (DR)

Speaker of the House: John Taylor (DR)

20th United States Congress
March 4, 1827-March 4, 1829

Leadership
President of the Senate: James Barbour (DR)

Speaker of the House: John Taylor (DR)

21st United States Congress
March 4, 1829-March 4, 1831

Leadership
President of the Senate: James Barbour (DR)

Speaker of the House: Andrew Stevenson (DR)

22nd United States Congress
March 4, 1831-March 4, 1833

Leadership
President of the Senate: John C. Calhoun (J)

Speaker of the House: Andrew Stevenson (J)

23rd United States Congress
March 4, 1833-March 4, 1835

Leadership
President of the Senate: Lewis Cass (J)

Speaker of the House: 1833-34: Andrew Stevenson (J) 1834-35: John Bell (J)

24th United States Congress
March 4, 1835-March 4, 1837

Leadership
President of the Senate: Lewis Cass (J)

Speaker of the House: James K. Polk (J)

25th United States Congress
March 4, 1837-March 4, 1839

Leadership
President of the Senate: William Cabell Rives (D)

Speaker of the House: James K. Polk (D)

26th United States Congress
March 4, 1839-March 4, 1841

Leadership
President of the Senate: William Cabell Rives (D)

Speaker of the House: Robert M.T. Hunter (W)

27th United States Congress
March 4, 1841-March 4, 1843

Leadership
President of the Senate: Lewis Cass (D)

Speaker of the House: John D. White (W)

28th United States Congress
March 4, 1843-March 4, 1845

Leadership
President of the Senate: John Tyler (W)

Speaker of the House: John W. Jones (D)

29th United States Congress
March 4, 1845-March 4, 1847

Leadership
President of the Senate: James Buchanan (D)

Speaker of the House: John W. Davis (D)

30th United States Congress
March 4, 1847-March 4, 1849

Leadership
President of the Senate: James Buchanan (D)

Speaker of the House: Robert C. Winthrop (W)

31st United States Congress
March 4, 1849-March 4, 1851

Leadership
President of the Senate: James Buchanan (D)

Speaker of the House: Howell Cobb (D)

32nd United States Congress
March 4, 1851-March 4, 1853

Leadership
President of the Senate: James Buchanan (D)

Speaker of the House: Linn Boyd (D)

33rd United States Congress
March 4, 1853-March 4, 1855

Leadership
President of the Senate: 1853-54: Solomon W. Downs (D)

Speaker of the House: Linn Boyd (D)

34th United States Congress
March 4, 1855-March 4, 1857

Leadership
President of the Senate: Edward Bates (W)

Speaker of the House: Nathaniel P. Banks (A)

35th United States Congress
March 4, 1857-March 4, 1859

Leadership
President of the Senate: Linn Boyd (D)

Speaker of the House: James L. Orr (D)