34th United States Congress
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The Thirty-fourth 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, 1855 to March 3, 1857, during the last two years of the administration of U.S. President Franklin Pierce.
The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the Seventh Census of the United States in 1850. The Senate had a Democratic majority, and the House had an anti-Democratic, coalition majority.
[edit] Dates of sessions
- First session: December 3, 1855 - August 18, 1856
- Second session: August 21, 1856 - August 30, 1856
- Third session: December 1, 1856 - March 3, 1857 — a lame duck session
Previous congress: 33rd Congress
Next congress: 35th Congress
[edit] Party summary
The 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.
During the time of the elections for the Thirty-Fourth Congress opponents to the Democrats used the Whig party label inconsistently and not all in some states. Hence in this Congress, and in accordance with the practice of the Senate and House, representatives not associated with the Democratic Party or the American Party are labeled as “Opposition.” This is the first example in U.S. history of a form of coalition government in either house of Congress.
TOTAL members: 62 |
TOTAL members: 234 |
[edit] Leadership
- Senate
- Vice President of the United States (President of the Senate):
- vacant
- President pro tempore of the Senate:
- Jesse D. Bright, Democratic of Indiana, elected December 3, 1855
- Charles E. Stuart, Democratic of Michigan, elected June 9, 1856
- James M. Mason, Democratic of Virginia, elected June 11, 1856
- House of Representatives
- Speaker of the House
- Nathaniel P. Banks, American of Massachusetts, elected February 2, 1856
[edit] Major events
- Main article: Events of 1855; Events of 1856; Events of 1857
[edit] Major legislation
- August 18, 1856 - Guano Islands Act, ch. 164, 11 Stat. 119
[edit] Members
This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed in order of seniority, and Representatives are listed by district.
- See also: 34th United States Congress - political parties
- See also: 34th United States Congress - State Delegations
- See also: United States House elections, 1854
[edit] Senate
Senators 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 ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1856; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1858; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1860.
- See also: Category:United States Senators
- See also: Category:United States Congressional Delegations by state
[edit] House of Representatives
The 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.
Many of the congressional district numbers are linked to articles describing the district itself. Since the boundaries of the districts have changed often and substantially, the linked article may only describe the district as it exists today, and not as it was at the time of this Congress.
- See also: Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives
- See also: Category:United States Congressional Delegations by state
[edit] Changes in membership
The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.
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[edit] Officers
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[edit] Notes
- ^ The parties that opposed the Democrats joined a coalition and formed the majority.
- ^ Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
[edit] References
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
[edit] External links
- Statutes at Large, 1789-1875
- Senate Journal, First Forty-three Sessions of Congress
- House Journal, First Forty-three Sessions of Congress
- Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
- U.S. House of Representatives: House History
- U.S. Senate: Statistics and Lists
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