This is a list of the United States Congresses, including their beginnings, endings, and the dates of their sessions. Each Congress lasts for two years and begins on January 3 of odd years.
Before the Twentieth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which fixed Congressional dates, the dates on which a Congress ended was either March 3 or March 4.
Congress | Congress began | Session | Session dates | Congress ended |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st Congress | March 4, 1789 | 1st session | March 4, 1789 – September 29, 1789 | March 3, 1791 |
2nd session | January 4, 1790 – August 12, 1790 | |||
3rd session | December 6, 1790 – March 3, 1791 | |||
2nd Congress | March 4, 1791 | Special session | March 4, 1791 – March 4, 1791 | March 3, 1793 |
1st session | October 24, 1791 – May 8, 1792 | |||
2nd session | November 5, 1792 – March 2, 1793 | |||
3rd Congress | March 4, 1793 | Special session | March 4, 1793 – March 4, 1793 | March 3, 1795 |
1st session | December 2, 1793 – June 9, 1794 | |||
2nd session | November 3, 1794 – March 3, 1795 | |||
4th Congress | March 4, 1795 | Special session | June 8, 1795 – June 26, 1795 | March 3, 1797 |
1st session | December 7, 1795 – June 1, 1796 | |||
2nd session | December 5, 1796 – March 3, 1797 | |||
5th Congress | March 4, 1797 | Special session | March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1797 | March 3, 1799 |
1st session | May 15, 1797 – July 10, 1797 | |||
2nd session | November 13, 1797 – July 16, 1798 | |||
Special session | July 17, 1798 – July 19, 1798 | |||
3rd session | December 3, 1798 – March 3, 1799 | |||
6th Congress | March 4, 1799 | 1st session | December 2, 1799 – May 14, 1800 | March 3, 1801 |
2nd session | November 17, 1800 – March 3, 1801 | |||
7th Congress | March 4, 1801 | Special session | March 4, 1801 – March 5, 1801 | March 3, 1803 |
1st session | December 7, 1801 – May 3, 1802 | |||
2nd session | December 6, 1802 – March 3, 1803 | |||
8th Congress | March 4, 1803 | 1st session | October 17, 1803 – March 27, 1804 | March 3, 1805 |
2nd session | November 5, 1804 – March 3, 1805 | |||
9th Congress | March 4, 1805 | 1st session | December 2, 1805 – April 21, 1806 | March 3, 1807 |
2nd session | December 1, 1806 – March 3, 1807 | |||
10th Congress | March 4, 1807 | 1st session | October 26, 1807 – April 25, 1808 | March 3, 1809 |
2nd session | November 7, 1808 – March 3, 1809 | |||
11th Congress | March 4, 1809 | Special session | March 4, 1809 – March 7, 1809 | March 3, 1811 |
1st session | May 22, 1809 – June 28, 1809 | |||
2nd session | November 27, 1809 – May 1, 1810 | |||
3rd session | December 3, 1810 – March 3, 1811 | |||
12th Congress | March 4, 1811 | 1st session | November 4, 1811 – July 6, 1812 | March 3, 1813 |
2nd session | November 2, 1812 – March 3, 1813 | |||
13th Congress | March 4, 1813 | 1st session | May 24, 1813 – August 2, 1813 | March 3, 1815 |
2nd session | December 6, 1813 – April 18, 1814 | |||
3rd session | September 19, 1814 – March 3, 1815 | |||
14th Congress | March 4, 1815 | 1st session | December 4, 1815 – April 30, 1816 | March 3, 1817 |
2nd session | December 2, 1816 – March 3, 1817 | |||
15th Congress | March 4, 1817 | Special session | March 4, 1817 – March 6, 1817 | March 3, 1819 |
1st session | December 1, 1817 – April 20, 1818 | |||
2nd session | November 16, 1818 – March 3, 1819 | |||
16th Congress | March 4, 1819 | 1st session | December 6, 1819 – May 15, 1820 | March 3, 1821 |
2nd session | November 13, 1820 – March 3, 1821 | |||
17th Congress | March 4, 1821 | 1st session | December 3, 1821 – May 8, 1822 | March 3, 1823 |
2nd session | December 2, 1822 – March 3, 1823 | |||
18th Congress | March 4, 1823 | 1st session | December 1, 1823 – May 27, 1824 | March 3, 1825 |
2nd session | December 6, 1824 – March 3, 1825 | |||
19th Congress | March 4, 1825 | Special session | March 4, 1825 – March 9, 1825 | March 3, 1827 |
1st session | December 5, 1825 – May 22, 1826 | |||
2nd session | December 4, 1826 – March 3, 1827 | |||
20th Congress | March 4, 1827 | 1st session | December 3, 1827 – May 26, 1828 | March 3, 1829 |
2nd session | December 1, 1828 – March 3, 1829 | |||
21st Congress | March 4, 1829 | Special session | March 4, 1829 – March 17, 1829 | March 3, 1831 |
1st session | December 7, 1829 – May 31, 1830 | |||
2nd session | December 6, 1830 – March 3, 1831 | |||
22nd Congress | March 4, 1831 | 1st session | December 5, 1831 – July 16, 1832 | March 3, 1833 |
2nd session | December 3, 1832 – March 2, 1833 | |||
23rd Congress | March 4, 1833 | 1st session | December 2, 1833 – June 30, 1834 | March 3, 1835 |
2nd session | December 1, 1834 – March 3, 1835 | |||
24th Congress | March 4, 1835 | 1st session | December 7, 1835 – July 4, 1836 | March 3, 1837 |
2nd session | December 5, 1836 – March 3, 1837 | |||
25th Congress | March 4, 1837 | Special session | March 4, 1837 – March 10, 1837 | March 3, 1839 |
1st session | September 4, 1837 – October 16, 1837 | |||
2nd session | December 4, 1837 – July 9, 1838 | |||
3rd session | December 3, 1838 – March 3, 1839 | |||
26th Congress | March 4, 1839 | 1st session | December 2, 1839 – July 21, 1840 | March 3, 1841 |
2nd session | December 7, 1840 – March 3, 1841 | |||
27th Congress | March 4, 1841 | Special session | March 4, 1841 – March 15, 1841 | March 3, 1843 |
1st session | May 31, 1841 – September 13, 1841 | |||
2nd session | December 6, 1841 – August 31, 1842 | |||
3rd session | December 5, 1842 – March 3, 1843 | |||
28th Congress | March 4, 1843 | 1st session | December 4, 1843 – June 17, 1844 | March 3, 1845 |
2nd session | December 2, 1844 – March 3, 1845 | |||
29th Congress | March 4, 1845 | Special session | March 4, 1845 – March 20, 1845 | March 3, 1847 |
1st session | December 1, 1845 – August 10, 1846 | |||
2nd session | December 7, 1846 – March 3, 1847 | |||
30th Congress | March 4, 1847 | 1st session | December 6, 1847 – August 14, 1848 | March 3, 1849 |
2nd session | December 4, 1848 – March 3, 1849 | |||
31st Congress | March 4, 1849 | Special session | March 5, 1849 – March 23, 1849 | March 3, 1851 |
1st session | December 3, 1849 – September 30, 1850 | |||
2nd session | December 2, 1850 – March 3, 1851 | |||
32nd Congress | March 4, 1851 | Special session | March 4, 1851 – March 13, 1851 | March 3, 1853 |
1st session | December 1, 1851 – August 31, 1852 | |||
2nd session | December 6, 1852 – March 3, 1853 | |||
33rd Congress | March 4, 1853 | Special session | March 4, 1853 – April 11, 1853 | March 3, 1855 |
1st session | December 5, 1853 – August 7, 1854 | |||
2nd session | December 4, 1854 – March 3, 1855 | |||
34th Congress | March 4, 1855 | 1st session | December 3, 1855 – August 18, 1856 | March 3, 1857 |
2nd session | August 21, 1856 – August 30, 1856 | |||
3rd session | December 1, 1856 – March 3, 1857 | |||
35th Congress | March 4, 1857 | Special session | March 4, 1857 – March 14, 1857 | March 3, 1859 |
1st session | December 7, 1857 – June 14, 1858 | |||
Special session | June 15, 1858 – June 16, 1858 | |||
2nd session | December 6, 1858 – March 3, 1859 | |||
36th Congress | March 4, 1859 | Special session | March 4, 1859 – March 10, 1859 | March 3, 1861 |
1st session | December 5, 1859 – June 25, 1860 | |||
Special session | June 26, 1860 – June 28, 1860 | |||
2nd session | December 3, 1860 – March 3, 1861 | |||
37th Congress | March 4, 1861 | Special session | March 4, 1861 – March 28, 1861 | March 3, 1863 |
1st session | July 4, 1861 – August 6, 1861 | |||
2nd session | December 2, 1861 – July 17, 1862 | |||
3rd session | December 1, 1862 – March 3, 1863 | |||
38th Congress | March 4, 1863 | Special session | March 4, 1863 – March 14, 1863 | March 3, 1865 |
1st session | December 7, 1863 – July 4, 1864 | |||
2nd session | December 5, 1864 – March 3, 1865 | |||
39th Congress | March 4, 1865 | Special session | March 4, 1865 – March 11, 1865 | March 3, 1867 |
1st session | December 4, 1865 – July 28, 1866 | |||
2nd session | December 3, 1866 – March 3, 1867 | |||
40th Congress | March 4, 1867 | 1st session | March 4, 1867 – December 1, 1867 | March 3, 1869 |
Special session | April 1, 1867 – April 20, 1867 | |||
2nd session | December 2, 1867 – November 10, 1868 | |||
3rd session | December 7, 1868 – March 3, 1869 | |||
41st Congress | March 4, 1869 | 1st session | March 4, 1869 – April 10, 1869 | March 3, 1871 |
Special session | April 12, 1869 – April 22, 1869 | |||
2nd session | December 6, 1869 – July 15, 1870 | |||
3rd session | December 5, 1870 – March 3, 1871 | |||
42nd Congress | March 4, 1871 | 1st session | March 4, 1871 – April 20, 1871 | March 3, 1873 |
Special session | May 10, 1871 – May 27, 1871 | |||
2nd session | December 4, 1871 – June 10, 1872 | |||
3rd session | December 2, 1872 – March 3, 1873 | |||
43rd Congress | March 4, 1873 | Special session | March 4, 1873 – March 26, 1873 | March 3, 1875 |
1st session | December 1, 1873 – June 23, 1874 | |||
2nd session | December 7, 1874 – March 3, 1875 | |||
44th Congress | March 4, 1875 | Special session | March 5, 1875 – March 24, 1875 | March 3, 1877 |
1st session | December 6, 1875 – August 15, 1876 | |||
2nd session | December 4, 1876 – March 3, 1877 | |||
45th Congress | March 4, 1877 | Special session | March 5, 1877 – March 17, 1877 | March 3, 1879 |
1st session | October 15, 1877 – December 3, 1877 | |||
2nd session | December 3, 1877 – June 20, 1878 | |||
3rd session | December 2, 1878 – March 3, 1879 | |||
46th Congress | March 4, 1879 | 1st session | March 18, 1879 – July 1, 1879 | March 3, 1881 |
2nd session | December 1, 1879 – June 16, 1880 | |||
3rd session | December 6, 1880 – March 3, 1881 | |||
47th Congress | March 4, 1881 | Special session | March 4, 1881 – May 20, 1881 | March 3, 1883 |
Special session | October 10, 1881 – October 29, 1881 | |||
1st session | December 5, 1881 – August 8, 1882 | |||
2nd session | December 4, 1882 – March 3, 1883 | |||
48th Congress | March 4, 1883 | 1st session | December 3, 1883 – July 7, 1884 | March 3, 1885 |
2nd session | December 1, 1884 – March 3, 1885 | |||
49th Congress | March 4, 1885 | Special session | March 4, 1885 – April 2, 1885 | March 3, 1887 |
1st session | December 7, 1885 – August 5, 1886 | |||
2nd session | December 6, 1886 – March 3, 1887 | |||
50th Congress | March 4, 1887 | 1st session | December 5, 1887 – October 20, 1888 | March 3, 1889 |
2nd session | December 3, 1888 – March 3, 1889 | |||
51st Congress | March 4, 1889 | Special session | March 4, 1889 – April 2, 1889 | March 3, 1891 |
1st session | December 2, 1889 – October 1, 1890 | |||
2nd session | December 1, 1890 – March 3, 1891 | |||
52nd Congress | March 4, 1891 | 1st session | December 7, 1891 – August 5, 1892 | March 3, 1893 |
2nd session | December 5, 1892 – March 3, 1893 | |||
53rd Congress | March 4, 1893 | Special session | March 4, 1893 – April 15, 1893 | March 3, 1895 |
1st session | August 7, 1893 – November 3, 1893 | |||
2nd session | December 4, 1893 – August 28, 1894 | |||
3rd session | December 3, 1894 – March 3, 1895 | |||
54th Congress | March 4, 1895 | 1st session | December 2, 1895 – June 11, 1896 | March 3, 1897 |
2nd session | December 7, 1896 – March 3, 1897 | |||
55th Congress | March 4, 1897 | Special session | March 4, 1897 – March 10, 1897 | March 3, 1899 |
1st session | March 15, 1897 – July 24, 1897 | |||
2nd session | December 6, 1897 – July 8, 1898 | |||
3rd session | December 5, 1898 – March 3, 1899 | |||
56th Congress | March 4, 1899 | 1st session | December 4, 1899 – June 7, 1900 | March 3, 1901 |
2nd session | December 3, 1900 – March 3, 1901 | |||
57th Congress | March 4, 1901 | Special session | March 4, 1901 – March 9, 1901 | March 3, 1903 |
1st session | December 2, 1901 – July 1, 1902 | |||
2nd session | December 1, 1902 – March 3, 1903 | |||
58th Congress | March 4, 1903 | Special session | March 5, 1903 – March 19, 1903 | March 3, 1905 |
1st session | November 9, 1903 – December 7, 1903 | |||
2nd session | December 7, 1903 – April 28, 1904 | |||
3rd session | December 5, 1904 – March 3, 1905 | |||
59th Congress | March 4, 1905 | Special session | March 4, 1905 – March 18, 1905 | March 3, 1907 |
1st session | December 4, 1905 – June 30, 1906 | |||
2nd session | December 3, 1906 – March 3, 1907 | |||
60th Congress | March 4, 1907 | 1st session | December 2, 1907 – May 30, 1908 | March 3, 1909 |
2nd session | December 7, 1908 – March 3, 1909 | |||
61st Congress | March 4, 1909 | Special session | March 4, 1909 – March 6, 1909 | March 3, 1911 |
1st session | March 15, 1909 – August 5, 1909 | |||
2nd session | December 6, 1909 – June 25, 1910 | |||
3rd session | December 5, 1910 – March 3, 1911 | |||
62nd Congress | March 4, 1911 | 1st session | April 4, 1911 – August 22, 1911 | March 3, 1913 |
2nd session | December 4, 1911 – August 26, 1912 | |||
3rd session | December 2, 1912 – March 3, 1913 | |||
63rd Congress | March 4, 1913 | Special session | March 4, 1913 – March 17, 1913 | March 3, 1915 |
1st session | April 7, 1913 – December 1, 1913 | |||
2nd session | December 1, 1913 – October 24, 1914 | |||
3rd session | December 7, 1914 – March 3, 1915 | |||
64th Congress | March 4, 1915 | 1st session | December 6, 1915 – September 8, 1916 | March 3, 1917 |
2nd session | December 4, 1916 – March 3, 1917 | |||
65th Congress | March 4, 1917 | Special session | March 5, 1917 – March 16, 1917 | March 3, 1919 |
1st session | April 2, 1917 – October 6, 1917 | |||
2nd session | December 3, 1917 – November 21, 1918 | |||
3rd session | December 2, 1918 – March 3, 1919 | |||
66th Congress | March 4, 1919 | 1st session | May 19, 1919 – November 19, 1919 | March 3, 1921 |
2nd session | December 1, 1919 – June 5, 1920 | |||
3rd session | December 6, 1920 – March 3, 1921 | |||
67th Congress | March 4, 1921 | Special session | March 4, 1921 – March 15, 1921 | March 3, 1923 |
1st session | April 11, 1921 – November 23, 1921 | |||
2nd session | December 5, 1921 – September 22, 1922 | |||
3rd session | November 20, 1922 – December 4, 1922 | |||
4th session | December 4, 1922 – March 3, 1923 | |||
68th Congress | March 4, 1923 | 1st session | December 3, 1923 – June 7, 1924 | March 3, 1925 |
2nd session | December 1, 1924 – March 3, 1925 | |||
69th Congress | March 4, 1925 | Special session | March 4, 1925 – March 18, 1925 | March 3, 1927 |
1st session | December 7, 1925 – July 3, 1926 | |||
2nd session | December 6, 1926 – March 4, 1927 | |||
70th Congress | March 4, 1927 | 1st session | December 5, 1927 – May 29, 1928 | March 3, 1929 |
2nd session | December 3, 1928 – March 3, 1929 | |||
71st Congress | March 4, 1929 | Special session | March 4, 1929 – March 5, 1929 | March 3, 1931 |
1st session | April 15, 1929 – November 22, 1929 | |||
2nd session | December 2, 1929 – July 3, 1930 | |||
Special session | July 7, 1930 – July 21, 1930 | |||
3rd session | December 1, 1930 – March 3, 1931 | |||
72nd Congress | March 4, 1931 | 1st session | December 7, 1931 – July 16, 1932 | March 3, 1933 |
2nd session | December 5, 1932 – March 3, 1933 | |||
73rd Congress | March 4, 1933 | Special session | March 4, 1933 – March 6, 1933 | January 3, 1935 |
1st session | March 9, 1933 – June 15, 1933 | |||
2nd session | January 3, 1934 – June 18, 1934 | |||
74th Congress | January 3, 1935 | 1st session | January 3, 1935 – August 26, 1935 | January 3, 1937 |
2nd session | January 3, 1936 – June 20, 1936 | |||
75th Congress | January 3, 1937 | 1st session | January 5, 1937 – August 21, 1937 | January 3, 1939 |
2nd session | November 15, 1937 – December 21, 1937 | |||
3rd session | January 3, 1938 – June 16, 1938 | |||
76th Congress | January 3, 1939 | 1st session | January 3, 1939 – August 5, 1939 | January 3, 1941 |
2nd session | September 21, 1939 – November 3, 1939 | |||
3rd session | January 3, 1940 – January 3, 1941 | |||
77th Congress | January 3, 1941 | 1st session | January 3, 1941 – January 2, 1942 | January 3, 1943 |
2nd session | January 5, 1942 – December 16, 1942 | |||
78th Congress | January 3, 1943 | 1st session | January 6, 1943 – December 21, 1943 | January 3, 1945 |
2nd session | January 10, 1944 – December 19, 1944 | |||
79th Congress | January 3, 1945 | 1st session | January 3, 1945 – December 21, 1945 | January 3, 1947 |
2nd session | January 14, 1946 – August 2, 1946 | |||
80th Congress | January 3, 1947 | 1st session | January 3, 1947 – December 19, 1947 | January 3, 1949 |
2nd session | January 6, 1948 – December 31, 1948 | |||
81st Congress | January 3, 1949 | 1st session | January 3, 1949 – October 19, 1949 | January 3, 1951 |
2nd session | January 3, 1950 – January 2, 1951 | |||
82nd Congress | January 3, 1951 | 1st session | January 3, 1951 – October 20, 1951 | January 3, 1953 |
2nd session | January 8, 1952 – July 7, 1952 | |||
83rd Congress | January 3, 1953 | 1st session | January 3, 1953 – August 3, 1953 | January 3, 1955 |
2nd session | January 6, 1954 – December 2, 1954 | |||
84th Congress | January 3, 1955 | 1st session | January 5, 1955 – August 2, 1955 | January 3, 1957 |
2nd session | January 3, 1956 – July 27, 1956 | |||
85th Congress | January 3, 1957 | 1st session | January 3, 1957 – August 30, 1957 | January 3, 1959 |
2nd session | January 7, 1958 – August 24, 1958 | |||
86th Congress | January 3, 1959 | 1st session | January 7, 1959 – September 15, 1959 | January 3, 1961 |
2nd session | January 6, 1960 – September 1, 1960 | |||
87th Congress | January 3, 1961 | 1st session | January 3, 1961 – September 27, 1961 | January 3, 1963 |
2nd session | January 10, 1962 – October 13, 1962 | |||
88th Congress | January 3, 1963 | 1st session | January 9, 1963 – December 30, 1963 | January 3, 1965 |
2nd session | January 7, 1964 – October 3, 1964 | |||
89th Congress | January 3, 1965 | 1st session | January 4, 1965 – October 23, 1965 | January 3, 1967 |
2nd session | January 10, 1966 – October 22, 1966 | |||
90th Congress | January 3, 1967 | 1st session | January 10, 1967 – December 15, 1967 | January 3, 1969 |
2nd session | January 15, 1968 – October 14, 1968 | |||
91st Congress | January 3, 1969 | 1st session | January 3, 1969 – December 23, 1969 | January 3, 1971 |
2nd session | January 19, 1970 – January 2, 1971 | |||
92nd Congress | January 3, 1971 | 1st session | January 21, 1971 – December 17, 1971 | January 3, 1973 |
2nd session | January 18, 1972 – October 18, 1972 | |||
93rd Congress | January 3, 1973 | 1st session | January 3, 1973 – December 22, 1973 | January 3, 1975 |
2nd session | January 21, 1974 – December 20, 1974 | |||
94th Congress | January 3, 1975 | 1st session | January 14, 1975 – December 19, 1975 | January 3, 1977 |
2nd session | January 19, 1976 – October 1, 1976 | |||
95th Congress | January 3, 1977 | 1st session | January 4, 1977 – December 15, 1977 | January 3, 1979 |
2nd session | January 19, 1978 – October 15, 1978 | |||
96th Congress | January 3, 1979 | 1st session | January 15, 1979 – January 3, 1980 | January 3, 1981 |
2nd session | January 3, 1980 – December 16, 1980 | |||
97th Congress | January 3, 1981 | 1st session | January 5, 1981 – December 16, 1981 | January 3, 1983 |
2nd session | January 25, 1982 – December 23, 1982 | |||
98th Congress | January 3, 1983 | 1st session | January 3, 1983 – November 18, 1983 | January 3, 1985 |
2nd session | January 23, 1984 – October 12, 1984 | |||
99th Congress | January 3, 1985 | 1st session | January 3, 1985 – December 20, 1985 | January 3, 1987 |
2nd session | January 21, 1986 – October 18, 1986 | |||
100th Congress | January 3, 1987 | 1st session | January 6, 1987 – December 22, 1987 | January 3, 1989 |
2nd session | January 25, 1988 – October 22, 1988 | |||
101st Congress | January 3, 1989 | 1st session | January 3, 1989 – November 22, 1989 | January 3, 1991 |
2nd session | January 23, 1990 – October 28, 1990 | |||
102nd Congress | January 3, 1991 | 1st session | January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1992 | January 3, 1993 |
2nd session | January 3, 1992 – October 9, 1992 | |||
103rd Congress | January 3, 1993 | 1st session | January 5, 1993 – November 26, 1993 | January 3, 1995 |
2nd session | January 25, 1994 – December 1, 1994 | |||
104th Congress | January 3, 1995 | 1st session | January 4, 1995 – January 3, 1996 | January 3, 1997 |
2nd session | January 3, 1996 – October 4, 1996 | |||
105th Congress | January 3, 1997 | 1st session | January 7, 1997 – November 13, 1997 | January 3, 1999 |
2nd session | January 27, 1998 – December 19, 1998 | |||
106th Congress | January 3, 1999 | 1st session | January 6, 1999 – November 22, 1999 | January 3, 2001 |
2nd session | January 24, 2000 – December 15, 2000 | |||
107th Congress | January 3, 2001 | 1st session | January 3, 2001 – December 20, 2001 | January 3, 2003 |
2nd session | January 23, 2002 – November 22, 2002 | |||
108th Congress | January 3, 2003 | 1st session | January 7, 2003 – December 9, 2003 | January 3, 2005 |
2nd session | January 20, 2004 – December 8, 2004 | |||
109th Congress | January 3, 2005 | 1st session | January 4, 2005 – December 22, 2005 | January 3, 2007 |
2nd session | January 3, 2006 – December 9, 2006 | |||
110th Congress | January 3, 2007 | 1st session | January 4, 2007 – December 19, 2007 | January 3, 2009 |
2nd session | January 3, 2008 – January 3, 2009 | |||
111th Congress | January 3, 2009 | 1st session | January 6, 2009 – December 24, 2009 | January 3, 2011 |
2nd session | January 5, 2010 – December 22, 2010 | |||
112th Congress | January 3, 2011 | 1st session | January 5, 2011 – January 3, 2012 | January 3, 2013 |
2nd session | January 3, 2012 – January 3, 2013 | |||
113th Congress | January 3, 2013 | 1st session | January 3, 2013 – December 26, 2013 | January 3, 2015 |
2nd session | January 3, 2014 – December 16, 2014 | |||
114th Congress | January 3, 2015 | 1st session | January 6, 2015 – December 18, 2015 | January 3, 2017 |
2nd session | January 4, 2016 – January 3, 2017 | |||
115th Congress | January 3, 2017 | 1st session | January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2018 | January 3, 2019 |
2nd session | January 3, 2018 – January 3, 2019 | |||
116th Congress | January 3, 2019 | 1st session | January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2020 | January 3, 2021 |
2nd session | January 3, 2020 – January 3, 2021 | |||
117th Congress | January 3, 2021 | 1st session | January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2022 | January 3, 2023 |
2nd session | January 3, 2022 – January 3, 2023 |
Congress | Congress began | Session | Session dates | Congress ends |
---|---|---|---|---|
118th Congress | January 3, 2023 | 1st session | January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2024 | January 3, 2025 |
2nd session | January 3, 2024 – present |
Congress | Congress begins | Session | Session dates | Congress ends |
---|---|---|---|---|
119th Congress | January 3, 2025 | 1st session | TBD | January 3, 2027 |
2nd session | TBD | |||
120th Congress | January 3, 2027 | 1st session | TBD | January 3, 2029 |
2nd session | TBD | |||
121st Congress | January 3, 2029 | 1st session | TBD | January 3, 2031 |
2nd session | TBD | |||
122nd Congress | January 3, 2031 | 1st session | TBD | January 3, 2033 |
2nd session | TBD | |||
123rd Congress | January 3, 2033 | 1st session | TBD | January 3, 2035 |
2nd session | TBD | |||
124th Congress | January 3, 2035 | 1st session | TBD | January 3, 2037 |
2nd session | TBD | |||
125th Congress | January 3, 2037 | 1st session | TBD | January 3, 2039 |
2nd session | TBD |
The Twentieth Amendment to the United States Constitution moved the beginning and ending of the terms of the president and vice president from March 4 to January 20, and of members of Congress from March 4 to January 3. It also has provisions that determine what is to be done when there is no president-elect. The Twentieth Amendment was adopted on January 23, 1933.
The 28th 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, 1843, to March 4, 1845, during the third and fourth years of John Tyler's presidency. The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the 1840 United States census. The Senate had a Whig majority, and the House had a Democratic majority.
In the United States, a recess appointment is an appointment by the president of a federal official when the U.S. Senate is in recess. Under the U.S. Constitution's Appointments Clause, the president is empowered to nominate, and with the advice and consent (confirmation) of the Senate, make appointments to high-level policy-making positions in federal departments, agencies, boards, and commissions, as well as to the federal judiciary. A recess appointment under Article II, Section 2, Clause 3 of the Constitution is an alternative method of appointing officials that allows the temporary filling of offices during periods when the Senate is not in session. It was anticipated that the Senate would be away for months at a time, so the ability to fill vacancies in important positions when the Senate is in recess and unavailable to provide advice and consent was deemed essential to maintain government function, as described by Alexander Hamilton in No. 67 of The Federalist Papers.
Delaware became a U.S. state in 1787, which allowed it to send congressional delegations to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives beginning with the 1st United States Congress in 1789. Voters in each state elect two senators to serve for six years, and members of the House to two-year terms. Before 1914 United States Senators were chosen by the Delaware General Assembly and before 1935 all congressional terms began March 4.
The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress, published by the United States Government Publishing Office and issued when Congress is in session. The Congressional Record Index is updated daily online and published monthly. At the end of a session of Congress, the daily editions are compiled in bound volumes constituting the permanent edition. Chapter 9 of Title 44 of the United States Code authorizes publication of the Congressional Record.
The 112th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, from January 3, 2011, until January 3, 2013. It convened in Washington, D.C., on January 3, 2011, and ended on January 3, 2013, 17 days before the end of the presidential term to which Barack Obama was elected in 2008. Senators elected to regular terms in 2006 completed those terms in this Congress. This Congress included the last House of Representatives elected from congressional districts that were apportioned based on the 2000 census.
A joint session of the United States Congress is a gathering of members of the two chambers of the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Joint sessions can be held on any special occasion, but are required to be held when the president delivers a State of the Union address, when they gather to count and certify the votes of the Electoral College as the presidential election, or when they convene on the occasion of a presidential inauguration. A joint meeting is a ceremonial or formal occasion and does not perform any legislative function, and no resolution is proposed nor vote taken.
The clerk of the United States House of Representatives is an officer of the United States House of Representatives, whose primary duty is to act as the chief record-keeper for the House.
The United States Senate has the authority for meeting in closed session, as described in the Standing Rules of the Senate.
In the Congress of the United States, a closed session is a parliamentary procedure for the Senate or the House of Representatives to discuss matters requiring secrecy.
The United States House of Representatives rarely meets in closed session.
A United States congressional hearing is the principal formal method by which United States congressional committees collect and analyze information in the early stages of legislative policymaking. Whether confirmation hearings, legislative, oversight, investigative, or a combination of these, all hearings share common elements of preparation and conduct. Hearings usually include oral testimony from witnesses and questioning of the witnesses by members of Congress. George B. Galloway termed congressional hearings a goldmine of information for all the public problems of the United States. A leading authority on U.S. government publications has referred to the published hearings as "the most important publications originating within Congress." The Senate Library in a similar vein noted "Hearings are among the most important publications originating in Congress."
The 115th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States of America federal government, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C., from January 3, 2017, to January 3, 2019, during the final weeks of Barack Obama's presidency and the first two years of Donald Trump's presidency. The seats in the House were apportioned based on the 2010 United States census.
A lame-duck session of Congress in the United States occurs whenever one Congress meets after its successor is elected, but before the successor's term begins. The expression is now used not only for a special session called after a sine die adjournment, but also for any portion of a regular session that falls after an election. In current practice, any meeting of Congress after election day, but before the next Congress convenes the following January, is a lame-duck session. Prior to 1933, when the 20th Amendment changed the dates of the congressional term, the last regular session of Congress was always a lame-duck session.
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress. The United States Senate and the lower chamber of Congress, the United States House of Representatives, comprise the federal bicameral legislature of the United States. Together, the Senate and the House have the authority under Article One of the U.S. Constitution to pass or defeat federal legislation. The Senate has exclusive power to confirm U.S. presidential appointments to high offices, approve or reject treaties, and try cases of impeachment brought by the House. The Senate and the House provide a check and balance on the powers of the executive and judicial branches of government.
Procedures of the United States Congress are established ways of doing legislative business. Congress has two-year terms with one session each year. There are rules and procedures, often complex, which guide how it converts ideas for legislation into laws.
The House Select Committee on Reconstruction was a select committee which existed the United States House of Representatives during the 40th and 41st Congresses with a focus related to the Reconstruction Acts. The 39th Congress had had a similar joint committee called the United States Congressional Joint Committee on Reconstruction.
Andrew Johnson became the first president of the United States to be impeached by the United States House of Representatives on February 24, 1868 after he acted to dismiss Edwin Stanton as secretary of war in disregard for the Tenure of Office Act.