2nd United States Congress
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The Second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, comprised of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met at Congress Hall in Philadelphia Pennsylvania from March 4, 1791 to March 3, 1793, during the last two years of the first administration of U.S. President George Washington.
The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the provisions of the United States Constitution. Both chambers had a Pro-Administration majority.
[edit] Dates of sessions
- Special session of the Senate: March 4, 1791
- First session: October 24, 1791 - May 8, 1792
- Second session: November 5, 1792 - March 2, 1793 — a lame duck session
Previous congress: 1st Congress
Next congress: 3rd Congress
[edit] Major events
- Main article: Events of 1791; Events of 1792; Events of 1793
- December 15, 1791 - The United States Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, were ratified by the states.
- April 5, 1792 - United States President George Washington used the veto for the first time, vetoing a bill designed to apportion representatives among U.S. states.
- October 13, 1792 - Foundation of Washington, DC: The cornerstone of the United States Executive Mansion, now known as the White House, was laid.
- French Revolution (1789 - 1792)
- French Revolutionary Wars (1793 - 1797) of the First Coalition
- Russo-Turkish War, 1787-1792
[edit] Major legislation
- March 4, 1791 - Vermont was admitted as a state to the Union. It was formerly a portion of New York
- February 20, 1792: The U.S. Post Office was established, Postal Service Act, ch. 7, 1 Stat. 232
- April 2, 1792: Coinage Act, established the U.S. Mint and regulated coinage
- May 2 and May 8, 1792: Militia Act of 1792, enabled the President to call in militia in case of invasion or rebellion, while providing for the organizations of state militias
- June 1, 1792 - Kentucky was admitted as a state to the Union. It was formerly a portion of Virginia
- February 12, 1793 - Fugitive Slave Law of 1793, ch. 7, 1 Stat. 302
- March 2, 1793 - Judiciary Act of 1793 (including Anti-Injunction Act), ch. 22, 1 Stat. 333
[edit] Party summary
Vermont and Kentucky were newly admitted to the union and first represented as states in this Congress.
There were no political parties in this Congress. Members are informally grouped into factions of similar interest, based on an analysis of their voting record. [1]
The count below identifies 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: 30 |
TOTAL members: 69 |
[edit] Leadership
- Senate
- Vice President of the United States (President of the Senate):
- President pro tempore of the Senate:
- Richard Henry Lee, Pro-Administration of Virginia, elected April 18, 1792
- John Langdon, Pro-Administration of New Hampshire, first elected November 5, 1792
- House of Representatives
- Speaker of the House
- Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., Pro-Administration of Connecticut, elected October 24, 1791
[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: 2nd United States Congress - Political Parties
- See also: 2nd United States Congress - State Delegations
- See also: United States House election, 1790
[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 began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1796; Class 2 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1792; and Class 3 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1794.
- See also: U.S. Senators
- See also: U.S. Congressional Delegations by state
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[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: U.S. Representatives
- See also: U.S. 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
- ^ Martis, Kenneth C.. The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress.
- ^ all representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket
- ^ all representatives elected statewide from individual districts
- ^ all representatives elected statewide from individual districts
- ^ all representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket
- ^ all representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket
- ^ special redistricting for this Congress
[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 [1]
- Senate Journal, First Forty-three Sessions of Congress [2]
- House Journal, First Forty-three Sessions of Congress [3]
- Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress [4]
- U.S. House of Representatives: Congressional History [5]
- U.S. Senate: Statistics and Lists [6]
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United States Congress Senate • Senators • Senate Leaders • Senate Committees • Senate Elections House • Representatives • House Leaders • House Committees • House Elections • House Districts |
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