37th United States Congress
March 4, 1861 – March 4, 1863
U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., Inauguration Day, March 4, 1861.
50 Senators
183 Representatives
7 Non-Voting Delegates
Sessions:
Special: March 4, 1861 – March 28, 1861
1st: July 4, 1861 – August 6, 1861
2nd: December 2, 1861 – July 17, 1862
3rd: December 1, 1862 – March 3, 1863
For the first time since the party's establishment, the Republicans won the majority of both chambers, and thus full control of Congress. And with Abraham Lincoln becoming the first Republican President after being sworn in on March 4, 1861, the Republicans had their first ever overall federal government trifecta.
Leadership
Senate
- President: Hannibal Hamlin (R)
- President pro tempore: Solomon Foot (R)
- Republican Conference Chairman: John P. Hale
House of Representatives
- Speaker: Galusha A. Grow (R)
Members
Senate
As of 3/1/1861, Starts With: 22 Democrats, 29 Republicans, 1 Unionist, 52 Members Total, 16 Vacant Seats, 68 Total Seats
As of 3/1/1863, Ends With: 11 Democrats, 30 Republicans, 7 Unionist, 48 Members Total, 20 Vacant Seats, 68 Total Seats
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, facing re-election in 1862; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, facing re-election in 1864; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, facing re-election in 1866.
Alabama
Arkansas
California
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
| Mississippi
Missouri
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Vermont
Virginia
Wisconsin
. . . . |
-
House of Representatives
As of 3/1/1861, Starts With: 2 Constitutional Unionists, 44 Democrats, 1 Independent Democrat,
107 Republicans, 23 Unionist, 177 Members Total, 62 Vacant Seats, 239 Total Seats
As of 3/1/1863, Ends With: 2 Constitutional Unionists, 44 Democrats, 1 Independent Democrat,
105 Republicans, 31 Unionist, 182 Members Total, 57 Vacant Seats, 239 Total Seats
Alabama
Arkansas
CaliforniaAll representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
MinnesotaBoth representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
Mississippi
Missouri
New Hampshire
New Jersey
| New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Vermont
Virginia
Wisconsin
Non-voting members
. . |
R - Republican
D - Democrat
U - Unionist
I - Independent
ID - Independent Democrat
CU- Constitutional Union
Major legislation
- August 5, 1861: Revenue Act of 1861, Sess. 1, ch. 45, 12 Stat. 292
- August 6, 1861: Confiscation Act of 1861, Sess. 1, ch. 60, 12 Stat. 319
- February 19, 1862: Anti-Coolie Act, Sess. 1, ch. 24, 27, 12 Stat. 340
- February 25, 1862: Legal Tender Act of 1862, Sess. 2, ch. 33, 12 Stat. 345
- April 16, 1862: District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act, Sess. 2, ch. 54, 12 Stat. 376
- May 15, 1862: An Act to Establish a Department of Agriculture, Sess. 2, ch. 72, 12 Stat. 387
- May 20, 1862: Homestead Act, Sess. 2, ch. 75, 12 Stat. 392
- June 19, 1862: An Act to secure Freedom to all persons within the Territories of the United States, Sess. 2, ch 111, 12 Stat. 432
- July 1, 1862: Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act, Sess. 2, ch. 126, 12 Stat. 501
- July 1, 1862: Revenue Act of 1862, Sess. 2, ch. 119, 12 Stat. 432
- July 1, 1862: Pacific Railway Act, Sess. 2, ch. 120, 12 Stat. 489
- July 2, 1862: Morrill Land Grant Colleges Act, Sess. 2, ch. 130, 12 Stat. 503
- July 17, 1862: Militia Act of 1862, Sess. 2, ch. 201, 12 Stat. 597
- February 25, 1863: National Bank Act, Sess. 3, ch 58, 12 Stat. 665
- March 2, 1863: False Claims Act, Sess. 3, ch. 67, 12 Stat. 696
- March 3, 1863: Enrollment Act, Sess. 3, ch. 75, 12 Stat. 731
- March 3, 1863: Habeas Corpus Suspension Act, Sess. 3, ch. 81, 12 Stat. 755
- March 3, 1863: Tenth Circuit Act, 12 Stat. 794
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