47th United States Congress | |
---|---|
46th ← → 48th | |
March 4, 1881 – March 4, 1883 | |
Members | 76 senators 293 representatives 8 non-voting delegates |
Senate majority | Split [1] (Republicans controlled the all-too important Senate committees) |
Senate President | Chester A. Arthur (R) (until September 19, 1881) Vacant (from September 19, 1881) |
House majority | Republican (plurality; became majority in middle of first Congressional session) |
House Speaker | J. Warren Keifer (R) |
Sessions | |
Special [a] : March 4, 1881 – May 20, 1881 Special [b] : October 10, 1881 – October 29, 1881 1st: December 5, 1881 – August 8, 1882 2nd: December 4, 1882 – March 3, 1883 |
The 47th 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, 1881, to March 4, 1883, during the six months of James Garfield's presidency, and the first year and a half of Chester Arthur's presidency. The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the 1870 United States census. The House had a Republican majority; the Senate was evenly divided for the first time ever, with no vice president to break ties for most of this term. [1]
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.
Party (Shading indicates party control) | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic (D) | Independent (I) | Readjuster (RA) | Republican (R) | Vacant | |||
End of previous Congress | 42 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 75 | 1 | |
Begin | 37 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 75 | 1 | |
March 5, 1881 [c] | 35 | 74 | 2 | ||||
March 7, 1881 [d] | 33 | 72 | 4 | ||||
March 8, 1881 [e] | 34 | 73 | 3 | ||||
March 12, 1881 [f] | 35 | 74 | 2 | ||||
March 14, 1881 [g] | 36 | 75 | 1 | ||||
March 18, 1881 [h] | 37 | 1 | 1 [i] | 37 | 76 | 0 | |
May 16, 1881 [j] | 37 | 1 | 1 | 35 | 74 | 2 | |
July 27, 1881 [k] | 36 | 75 | 1 | ||||
August 2, 1881 [l] | 37 | 1 | 1 | 37 | 76 | 0 | |
September 13, 1881 [m] | 36 | 75 | 1 | ||||
October 5, 1881 [n] | 1 [o] | 37 | 76 | 0 | |||
November 15, 1881 [p] | |||||||
April 17, 1882 [q] | |||||||
August 16, 1882 [r] | 36 | 75 | 1 | ||||
November 15, 1882 [s] | 37 | 76 | 0 | ||||
January 27, 1883 [t] | |||||||
Final voting share | 48.7% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 48.7% | |||
Beginning of the next Congress | 36 | 0 | 2 | 38 | 76 | 0 |
Party (Shading indicates party control) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic (D) | Independent Democrat (ID) | Independent (I) | Greenback (GB) | Independent Republican (IR) | Republican (R) | Vacant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
End of previous Congress | 146 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 129 | 291 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Begin | 134 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 146 | 291 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 17, 1881 [u] | 145 | 290 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 21, 1881 [v] | 144 | 289 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
April 5, 1881 [w] | 145 | 290 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
April 26, 1881 [x] | 133 | 289 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
June 9, 1881 [y] | 134 | 290 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
July 26, 1881 [z] | 144 | 289 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
July 29, 1881 [aa] | 143 | 288 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 12, 1881 [ab] | 144 | 289 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
October 5, 1881 [ac] | 143 | 288 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
November 8, 1881 [ad] | 135 | 145 | 291 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December 5, 1881 [ae] | 136 | 146 | 293 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
April 8, 1882 [af] | 135 | 292 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
April 29, 1882 [ag] | 134 | 147 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
May 31, 1882 [ah] | 133 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
June 1, 1882 [ai] | 132 | 148 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
June 3, 1882 [aj] | 131 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
June 29, 1882 [ak] | 147 | 291 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
July 19, 1882 [al] | 130 | 148 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
July 20, 1882 [am] | 129 | 290 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
October 12, 1882 [an] | 9 | 289 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
November 4, 1882 [ao] | 128 | 288 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
November 7, 1882 [ap] | 129 | 149 | 290 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
November 30, 1882 [aq] | 148 | 289 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December 4, 1882 [ar] | 130 | 290 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December 15, 1882 [as] | 149 | 291 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December 16, 1882 [at] | 148 | 290 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
January 2, 1883 [au] | 149 | 291 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
January 15, 1883 [av] | 131 | 292 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
January 17, 1883 [aw] | 150 | 293 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
January 18, 1883 [ax] | 130 | 292 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 2, 1883 [ay] | 129 | 151 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 3, 1883 [az] | 130 | 150 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Final voting share | 44.5% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 3.1% | 0.3% | 51.4% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning of the next Congress | 196 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 117 | 325 | 1 |
This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed by class, and representatives are listed by district.
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.
Members' names are preceded by their district numbers.
The count below reflects changes from the beginning of this Congress.
State (class) | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date of successor's formal installation [ba] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wisconsin (3) | Vacant | Senator Matthew H. Carpenter died in the previous congress. Successor elected March 14, 1881. | Angus Cameron (R) | March 14, 1881 |
Maine (2) | James G. Blaine (R) | Resigned March 5, 1881, to become U.S. Secretary of State. Successor elected March 18, 1881. | William P. Frye (R) | March 18, 1881 |
Iowa (2) | Samuel J. Kirkwood (R) | Resigned March 7, 1881, to become U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Successor appointed March 8, 1881, to continue the term. Appointee elected January 25, 1882, to finish the term. | James W. McDill (R) | March 8, 1881 |
Minnesota (2) | William Windom (R) | Resigned March 7, 1881, to become U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. Successor appointed March 12, 1881, to continue the term. | Alonzo J. Edgerton (R) | March 12, 1881 |
New York (1) | Thomas C. Platt (R) | Resigned May 16, 1881, as a protest against federal appointments made in New York. Successor elected October 11, 1881. | Warner Miller (R) | July 27, 1881 |
New York (3) | Roscoe Conkling (R) | Resigned May 16, 1881, as a protest against federal appointments made in New York. Successor elected October 11, 1881. | Elbridge G. Lapham (R) | August 2, 1881 |
Rhode Island (1) | Ambrose Burnside (R) | Died September 13, 1881. Successor elected October 5, 1881. | Nelson W. Aldrich (R) | October 5, 1881 |
Minnesota (2) | Alonzo J. Edgerton (R) | Interim appointee replaced by successor elected October 30, 1881. | William Windom (R) | November 15, 1881 |
Colorado (2) | Henry M. Teller (R) | Resigned April 17, 1882, to become U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Successor appointed April 17, 1882. | George M. Chilcott (R) | April 17, 1882 |
Georgia (2) | Benjamin H. Hill (D) | Died August 16, 1882. Successor elected November 15, 1882. | M. Pope Barrow (D) | November 15, 1882 |
Colorado (2) | George M. Chilcott (R) | Interim appointee replaced by successor elected January 27, 1883. | Horace Tabor (R) | January 27, 1883 |
District | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date of successor's formal installation [ba] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Michigan 7 | Vacant | Rep. Omar D. Conger resigned during previous congress | John T. Rich (R) | April 5, 1881 |
New York 9 | Vacant | Rep. Fernando Wood elected but died before Congress convened | John Hardy (D) | December 5, 1881 |
Maine 2 | William P. Frye (R) | Resigned March 17, 1881 when elected U.S. Senator. | Nelson Dingley Jr. (R) | September 12, 1881 |
New York 11 | Levi P. Morton (R) | Resigned March 21, 1881 to become U.S. Minister to France. | Roswell P. Flower (D) | November 8, 1881 |
South Carolina 2 | Michael P. O'Connor (D) | Died April 26, 1881, during a contested election. Dibble presented credentials to replace him due to his death. | Samuel Dibble (D) | June 9, 1881 |
New York 22 | Warner Miller (R) | Resigned July 26, 1881 when elected U.S. Senator. | Charles R. Skinner (R) | November 8, 1881 |
New York 27 | Elbridge G. Lapham (R) | Resigned July 29, 1881 when elected U.S. Senator. | James W. Wadsworth (R) | November 8, 1881 |
Rhode Island 1 | Nelson W. Aldrich (R) | Resigned October 5, 1881 when elected U.S. Senator. Successor elected November 22, 1881. | Henry J. Spooner (R) | December 5, 1881 |
Missouri 2 | Thomas Allen (D) | Died April 8, 1882 | James H. McLean (R) | December 15, 1882 |
Mississippi 6 | James R. Chalmers (D) | Lost contested election April 29, 1882 | John R. Lynch (R) | April 29, 1882 |
South Carolina 2 | Samuel Dibble (D) | Lost contested election May 31, 1882, during an election originally contested with Michael P. O'Connor. Dibble presented credentials to replace him until Mackey was determined to be the victor under terms of the original election. | Edmund W. M. Mackey (IR) | May 31, 1882 |
Florida 2 | Jesse J. Finley (D) | Lost contested election June 1, 1882 | Horatio Bisbee Jr. (R) | June 1, 1882 |
Alabama 8 | Joseph Wheeler (D) | Lost contested election June 3, 1882 | William M. Lowe (GB) | June 3, 1882 |
Illinois 5 | Robert M. A. Hawk (R) | Died June 29, 1882 | Robert R. Hitt (R) | November 7, 1882 |
South Carolina 5 | George D. Tillman (D) | Lost contested election July 19, 1882 | Robert Smalls (R) | July 19, 1882 |
Alabama 4 | Charles M. Shelley (D) | Election contested by James Q. Smith. Seat declared vacant July 20, 1882. Shelley re-elected to fill seat. | Charles M. Shelley (D) | November 7, 1882 |
Alabama 8 | William M. Lowe (GB) | Died October 12, 1882 | Joseph Wheeler (D) | January 15, 1883 |
Georgia 8 | Alexander H. Stephens (D) | Resigned November 4, 1882 when elected Governor of Georgia. | Seaborn Reese (D) | December 4, 1882 |
Ohio 16 | Jonathan T. Updegraff (R) | Died November 30, 1882 | Joseph D. Taylor (R) | January 2, 1883 |
Indiana 9 | Godlove S. Orth (R) | Died December 16, 1882 | Charles T. Doxey (R) | January 17, 1883 |
North Carolina 3 | John W. Shackelford (D) | Died January 18, 1883 | Vacant | Not filled this term |
Missouri 3 | Richard G. Frost (D) | Lost contested election March 2, 1883 | Gustavus Sessinghaus (R) | March 2, 1883 |
Iowa 6 | Marsena E. Cutts (R) | Lost election contest March 3, 1883 | John C. Cook (D) | March 3, 1883 |
Lists of committees and their party leaders for members of the House and Senate committees can be found through the Official Congressional Directory at the bottom of this article. The directory after the pages of terms of service lists committees of the Senate, House (Standing with Subcommittees, Select and Special) and Joint and, after that, House/Senate committee assignments. On the committees section of the House and Senate in the Official Congressional Directory, the committee's members on the first row on the left side shows the chairman of the committee and on the right side shows the ranking member of the committee.
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