![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/USCapitol1877.jpg/275px-USCapitol1877.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/William_A._Wheeler_bust.jpg/175px-William_A._Wheeler_bust.jpg)
Vice President
William A. Wheeler
The Forty-fifth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1877 to March 3, 1879 during the first two years of the administration of U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes.
The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the Ninth Census of the United States in 1870. The Senate had a Republican majority, and the House had a Democratic majority.
Dates of sessions
editMarch 4, 1877 - March 3, 1879
- Special session of the Senate: March 5, 1877 – March 17, 1877
- First session: October 15, 1877 – December 3, 1877
- First session: December 3, 1877 - June 20, 1878
- Second session: December 2 1878 - March 3, 1879 — a lame duck session
Previous congress: 44th Congress - general
Next congress: 46th Congress - general
Party summary
editThe count below identifies party affiliations at the beginning of the first session of this Congress, and includes members from vacancies and newly admitted states, when they were first seated. Changes resulting from subsequent replacements are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section.
Total members: 76 |
Total members: 293 |
Leadership
edit- Senate
- Vice President of the United States (President of the Senate):
- President pro tempore of the Senate:
- Thomas W. Ferry, Republican of Michigan, first elected in this Congress March 5, 1877.
- House of Representatives
- Speaker of the House
- Samuel J. Randall, Democratic of Pennsylvania, reelected October 15, 1877.
Major events
edit- Main article: Events of 1876; Events of 1877; Events of 1879
- March 4, 1877 — Rutherford B. Hayes became President of the United States
Major legislation
edit- February 28, 1878 — Bland-Allison Act (Coinage Act (Silver Dollar)), Sess. 2, ch. 20, 20 Stat. 25
- April 29, 1878 — National Quarantine Act, Sess. 2, ch. 66, 20 Stat. 37
- June 3, 1878 — Timber and Stone Act, Sess. 2, ch. 151, 20 Stat. 89
- June 18, 1878 — Posse Comitatus Act, Sess. 2, ch. 263, §15, 20 Stat. 152
Membership highlights by chamber
editThis list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed in order of seniority, and Representatives are listed by district.
Senate
editSenators were elected by the state legislatures every two years, with one-third beginning new six year terms with each Congress. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election. In this Congress, Class 1 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1880; Class 2 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1882; and Class 3 meant their term ended in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1878.
- See also: Category:United States Senators
- See also: Category:United States congressional delegations by state
House of Representatives
editThe names of members of the House of Representatives elected statewide on the general ticket or otherwise at-large, are preceded by an "A/L," and the names of those elected from districts, whether plural or single member, are preceded by their district numbers.
- See also: Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives
- See also: Category:United States congressional delegations by state
Membership detail by Chamber/Party
editThe list below is arranged by chamber, then by political party. Members are shown in alphabetical order.
Senate
editSenators were elected by the state legislatures every two years, with one-third beginning new six year terms with each Congress.
House of Representatives
editMembers of the House of Representatives were elected by popular vote, variously to single member districts or at-large.
Changes in membership
editThe count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.
|
|
Officers
edit
|
|
References
edit- Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
{{cite book}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
{{cite book}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help)
External links
edit- Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
- U.S. House of Representatives: House History
- U.S. Senate: Statistics and Lists