List of United States Congresses
Overview
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Each Congress lasts for two years and is identified by a number that has been sequentially assigned since the First Congress in 1789. This article provides a comprehensive list of all United States Congresses, detailing their sessions, key legislative actions, and significant historical contexts.
Structure of Congress
The structure of the United States Congress is defined by the Constitution. The Senate is composed of two senators from each state, regardless of population, serving staggered six-year terms. The House of Representatives consists of members apportioned among the states based on population, with each representative serving a two-year term.
List of United States Congresses
1st to 10th Congresses (1789–1809)
The First Congress (1789–1791) convened in New York City and later moved to Philadelphia. It was instrumental in establishing the initial framework of the federal government, including the passage of the Bill of Rights.
The Second Congress (1791–1793) saw the establishment of the U.S. Mint and the Post Office.
The Third Congress (1793–1795) dealt with issues such as the Whiskey Rebellion and the Jay Treaty.
The Fourth Congress (1795–1797) passed the Alien and Sedition Acts, which were highly controversial.
The Fifth Congress (1797–1799) was marked by the Quasi-War with France.
The Sixth Congress (1799–1801) saw the establishment of the Library of Congress.
The Seventh Congress (1801–1803) was the first to convene in Washington, D.C., and dealt with the Louisiana Purchase.
The Eighth Congress (1803–1805) focused on the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
The Ninth Congress (1805–1807) dealt with issues related to the Embargo Act.
The Tenth Congress (1807–1809) saw the continuation of tensions leading up to the War of 1812.
11th to 20th Congresses (1809–1829)
The Eleventh Congress (1809–1811) dealt with the Non-Intercourse Act, which aimed to alleviate economic tensions with Britain and France.
The Twelfth Congress (1811–1813) declared war on Britain, initiating the War of 1812.
The Thirteenth Congress (1813–1815) saw the burning of Washington, D.C., by British forces.
The Fourteenth Congress (1815–1817) dealt with post-war reconstruction and the admission of Indiana as a state.
The Fifteenth Congress (1817–1819) focused on the Missouri Compromise, addressing the issue of slavery in new states.
The Sixteenth Congress (1819–1821) admitted Alabama and Maine as states.
The Seventeenth Congress (1821–1823) focused on the Monroe Doctrine, a key element of U.S. foreign policy.
The Eighteenth Congress (1823–1825) dealt with the Tariff of 1824, which aimed to protect American industry.
The Nineteenth Congress (1825–1827) saw the completion of the Erie Canal, a significant infrastructure project.
The Twentieth Congress (1827–1829) focused on the Indian Removal Act, which led to the relocation of Native American tribes.
21st to 30th Congresses (1829–1849)
The Twenty-First Congress (1829–1831) dealt with issues related to the Bank War, initiated by President Andrew Jackson.
The Twenty-Second Congress (1831–1833) saw the passage of the Nullification Crisis, addressing states' rights.
The Twenty-Third Congress (1833–1835) focused on the Panic of 1837, an economic crisis.
The Twenty-Fourth Congress (1835–1837) dealt with the Texas Revolution and the subsequent annexation of Texas.
The Twenty-Fifth Congress (1837–1839) focused on the establishment of the Independent Treasury System.
The Twenty-Sixth Congress (1839–1841) saw the admission of Florida as a state.
The Twenty-Seventh Congress (1841–1843) dealt with the Dorr Rebellion in Rhode Island.
The Twenty-Eighth Congress (1843–1845) focused on the Oregon Trail and westward expansion.
The Twenty-Ninth Congress (1845–1847) declared war on Mexico, leading to the Mexican-American War.
The Thirtieth Congress (1847–1849) dealt with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ending the Mexican-American War.
31st to 40th Congresses (1849–1869)
The Thirty-First Congress (1849–1851) focused on the Compromise of 1850, addressing the issue of slavery in new territories.
The Thirty-Second Congress (1851–1853) saw the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act.
The Thirty-Third Congress (1853–1855) dealt with the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed new territories to decide on the issue of slavery.
The Thirty-Fourth Congress (1855–1857) focused on the Bleeding Kansas conflict.
The Thirty-Fifth Congress (1857–1859) dealt with the Dred Scott decision, a landmark Supreme Court case.
The Thirty-Sixth Congress (1859–1861) saw the secession of Southern states, leading to the Civil War.
The Thirty-Seventh Congress (1861–1863) focused on the Civil War and the passage of the Homestead Act.
The Thirty-Eighth Congress (1863–1865) saw the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, abolishing slavery.
The Thirty-Ninth Congress (1865–1867) focused on Reconstruction and the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The Fortieth Congress (1867–1869) dealt with the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson.
41st to 50th Congresses (1869–1889)
The Forty-First Congress (1869–1871) focused on the Reconstruction Acts and the admission of new states.
The Forty-Second Congress (1871–1873) dealt with the Ku Klux Klan Act, aimed at suppressing the Klan's activities.
The Forty-Third Congress (1873–1875) focused on the Panic of 1873, an economic depression.
The Forty-Fourth Congress (1875–1877) dealt with the end of Reconstruction and the Compromise of 1877.
The Forty-Fifth Congress (1877–1879) focused on the Bland-Allison Act, which addressed the coinage of silver.
The Forty-Sixth Congress (1879–1881) dealt with the Chinese Exclusion Act.
The Forty-Seventh Congress (1881–1883) focused on the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act.
The Forty-Eighth Congress (1883–1885) dealt with issues related to the Interstate Commerce Act.
The Forty-Ninth Congress (1885–1887) focused on the Dawes Act, which aimed to assimilate Native Americans.
The Fiftieth Congress (1887–1889) dealt with the Sherman Antitrust Act, aimed at curbing monopolies.
51st to 60th Congresses (1889–1909)
The Fifty-First Congress (1889–1891) focused on the McKinley Tariff, which raised duties on imports.
The Fifty-Second Congress (1891–1893) dealt with the Homestead Strike, a major labor conflict.
The Fifty-Third Congress (1893–1895) focused on the Panic of 1893, an economic depression.
The Fifty-Fourth Congress (1895–1897) dealt with the Cuban War of Independence.
The Fifty-Fifth Congress (1897–1899) declared war on Spain, leading to the Spanish-American War.
The Fifty-Sixth Congress (1899–1901) focused on the annexation of the Philippines.
The Fifty-Seventh Congress (1901–1903) dealt with the Platt Amendment, which defined U.S. relations with Cuba.
The Fifty-Eighth Congress (1903–1905) focused on the Panama Canal project.
The Fifty-Ninth Congress (1905–1907) dealt with the Pure Food and Drug Act.
The Sixtieth Congress (1907–1909) focused on the Aldrich-Vreeland Act, which addressed banking reform.
61st to 70th Congresses (1909–1929)
The Sixty-First Congress (1909–1911) focused on the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act.
The Sixty-Second Congress (1911–1913) dealt with the establishment of the Federal Reserve System.
The Sixty-Third Congress (1913–1915) focused on the Clayton Antitrust Act.
The Sixty-Fourth Congress (1915–1917) dealt with the National Defense Act, which expanded the U.S. military.
The Sixty-Fifth Congress (1917–1919) declared war on Germany, entering World War I.
The Sixty-Sixth Congress (1919–1921) focused on the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations.
The Sixty-Seventh Congress (1921–1923) dealt with the Immigration Act of 1924.
The Sixty-Eighth Congress (1923–1925) focused on the Dawes Plan, which addressed German reparations.
The Sixty-Ninth Congress (1925–1927) dealt with the Scopes Trial, a landmark case on the teaching of evolution.
The Seventieth Congress (1927–1929) focused on the Kellogg-Briand Pact, which aimed to outlaw war.
71st to 80th Congresses (1929–1949)
The Seventy-First Congress (1929–1931) dealt with the onset of the Great Depression.
The Seventy-Second Congress (1931–1933) focused on the New Deal programs.
The Seventy-Third Congress (1933–1935) dealt with the Social Security Act.
The Seventy-Fourth Congress (1935–1937) focused on the Wagner Act, which addressed labor relations.
The Seventy-Fifth Congress (1937–1939) dealt with the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The Seventy-Sixth Congress (1939–1941) focused on the Lend-Lease Act, which provided aid to Allied nations during World War II.
The Seventy-Seventh Congress (1941–1943) declared war on Japan, entering World War II.
The Seventy-Eighth Congress (1943–1945) dealt with the G.I. Bill, which provided benefits to returning veterans.
The Seventy-Ninth Congress (1945–1947) focused on the United Nations Charter.
The Eightieth Congress (1947–1949) dealt with the Marshall Plan, which provided aid to rebuild Europe after World War II.
81st to 90th Congresses (1949–1969)
The Eighty-First Congress (1949–1951) focused on the North Atlantic Treaty, establishing NATO.
The Eighty-Second Congress (1951–1953) dealt with the Korean War.
The Eighty-Third Congress (1953–1955) focused on the Brown v. Board of Education decision, which desegregated schools.
The Eighty-Fourth Congress (1955–1957) dealt with the Interstate Highway Act.
The Eighty-Fifth Congress (1957–1959) focused on the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
The Eighty-Sixth Congress (1959–1961) dealt with the establishment of NASA.
The Eighty-Seventh Congress (1961–1963) focused on the Cuban Missile Crisis.
The Eighty-Eighth Congress (1963–1965) dealt with the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The Eighty-Ninth Congress (1965–1967) focused on the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The Ninetieth Congress (1967–1969) dealt with the Fair Housing Act.
91st to 100th Congresses (1969–1989)
The Ninety-First Congress (1969–1971) focused on the Apollo 11 moon landing.
The Ninety-Second Congress (1971–1973) dealt with the Watergate scandal.
The Ninety-Third Congress (1973–1975) focused on the end of the Vietnam War.
The Ninety-Fourth Congress (1975–1977) dealt with the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.
The Ninety-Fifth Congress (1977–1979) focused on the Panama Canal treaties.
The Ninety-Sixth Congress (1979–1981) dealt with the Iran hostage crisis.
The Ninety-Seventh Congress (1981–1983) focused on the Economic Recovery Tax Act.
The Ninety-Eighth Congress (1983–1985) dealt with the Social Security Amendments of 1983.
The Ninety-Ninth Congress (1985–1987) focused on the Tax Reform Act of 1986.
The One Hundredth Congress (1987–1989) dealt with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
101st to 110th Congresses (1989–2009)
The One Hundred First Congress (1989–1991) focused on the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The One Hundred Second Congress (1991–1993) dealt with the Gulf War.
The One Hundred Third Congress (1993–1995) focused on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
The One Hundred Fourth Congress (1995–1997) dealt with welfare reform.
The One Hundred Fifth Congress (1997–1999) focused on the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.
The One Hundred Sixth Congress (1999–2001) dealt with the Y2K issue.
The One Hundred Seventh Congress (2001–2003) focused on the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
The One Hundred Eighth Congress (2003–2005) dealt with the Iraq War.
The One Hundred Ninth Congress (2005–2007) focused on Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
The One Hundred Tenth Congress (2007–2009) dealt with the Great Recession.
111th to 117th Congresses (2009–2023)
The One Hundred Eleventh Congress (2009–2011) focused on the Affordable Care Act.
The One Hundred Twelfth Congress (2011–2013) dealt with the Budget Control Act.
The One Hundred Thirteenth Congress (2013–2015) focused on the government shutdown of 2013.
The One Hundred Fourteenth Congress (2015–2017) dealt with the Iran nuclear deal.
The One Hundred Fifteenth Congress (2017–2019) focused on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
The One Hundred Sixteenth Congress (2019–2021) dealt with the impeachment of President Donald Trump.
The One Hundred Seventeenth Congress (2021–2023) focused on the COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts.