(sort ↓) Congress | session | type | convened | adjourned | President pro Tempore of the Senate | Speaker of the House of Representatives |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
117th | 1st | odd | 3 January 2021 | Grassley | Pelosi | |
116th | 2nd | even | 3 January 2020 | Grassley | Pelosi | |
1st | odd | 3 January 2019 | Grassley, Charles E. "Chuck" (Rep.-Iowa) | Pelosi, Nancy (Dem.-California) | ||
115th | 2nd | even (ld) | 3 January 2018 | 3 January 2019 | Hatch | Ryan |
1st | odd | 3 January 2017 | 3 January 2018 | Hatch | Ryan | |
114th | 2nd | even (ld) | 4 January 2016 | 2 January 2017 | Hatch | Ryan |
1st | odd | 6 January 2015 | 18 December 2015 | Hatch, Orrin G. (Rep.-Utah) | Boehner; Ryan, Paul D. (Rep.-Wisconsin) | |
Speaker of the House John Boehner resigned that office on 29 October 2015; Paul Ryan was elected Speaker in his stead that same day. | ||||||
113th | 2nd | even (ld) | 6 January 2014 | 16 December 2014 | Leahy | Boehner |
1st | odd | 3 January 2013 | 26 December 2013 | Leahy | Boehner | |
112th | 2nd | even(ld) | 3 January 2012 | 2 January 2013 | Inouye; Leahy, Patrick (Dem.-Vermont) | Boehner |
Senate President pro Tempore Daniel K. Inouye died on 17 December 2012; Senator Leahy was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate and sworn as such the next day. | ||||||
1st | odd | 5 January 2011 | 30 December 2011 | Inouye | Boehner, John (Rep.-Ohio) | |
The U.S. House of Representatives (112th Congress, 1st session) met for about an hour at 11 AM EST (1600 GMT) on 3 January 2012 as a continuation of the 30 December 2011 Legislative Day; at precisely Noon EST (1700 GMT), 3 January 2012, the 2nd session of the 112th Congress began and the House continued its meeting (while, at the same time, gaveling into session a newly convened 2d session) while the U.S. Senate of that same 2nd session first convened. | ||||||
111th | 2d | even(ld) | 5 January 2010 | 22 December 2010 | Byrd; Inouye, Daniel K. (Dem.-Hawaii) | Pelosi |
Senate President pro Tempore Robert C. Byrd died on 28 June 2010; Senator Inouye was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate the same day. | ||||||
1st | odd | 6 January 2009 | 24 December 2009 | Byrd | Pelosi | |
110th | 2nd | even(ld) | 15 January 2008 | 2 January 2009 | Byrd | Pelosi |
1st | odd | 4 January 2007 | 19 December 2007 | Byrd (returning) | Pelosi, Nancy (Dem.-California) | |
109th | 2nd | even(ld) | 3 January 2006 | 8 December 2006 | Stevens | Hastert |
1st | odd | 4 January 2005 | 22 December 2005 | Stevens | Hastert | |
108th | 2nd | even(ld) | 20 January 2004 | 20 December 2004 | Stevens | Hastert |
1st | odd | 7 January 2003 | 8 December 2003 | Stevens, Ted (Rep.-Alaska) | Hastert | |
107th | 2nd | even(ld) | 23 January 2002 | 22 November 2002 | Byrd | Hastert |
1st | odd | 3 January 2001 | 20 December 2001 | Byrd (returning) & Thurmond (returning) | Hastert | |
The Senate of the 107th Congress convened with 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans: until noon on 20 January 2001, Vice President Al Gore- a Democrat- remained in office and could theoretically break a party line tie vote; as a result, Senator Robert C. Byrd (Dem.- West Virginia) was elected Senate President pro Tempore on 3 January 2001. By prior arrangement between the Senate leadership of the two Parties: as of noon on 20 January 2001, when Dick Cheney- a Republican- took office as Vice President, after which he could theoretically break a party line tie vote, Senator Strom Thurmond (Rep.- South Carolina) became Senate President pro Tempore. On 24 May 2001, Senator James Jeffords of Vermont, heretofore a Republican, announced his intention to become an Independent- making the Senate one of 50 Democrats, 49 Republicans and himself as the 1 Independent; this action resulted in Senator Byrd returning to the office of Senate President pro Tempore on 6 June 2001. | ||||||
106th | 2nd | even(ld) | 24 January 2000 | 15 December 2000 | Thurmond | Hastert |
1st | odd | 6 January 1999 | 22 November 1999 | Thurmond | Hastert, Dennis (Rep.- Illinois) | |
105th | 2nd | even(ld) | 27 January 1998 | 19 December 1998 | Thurmond | Gingrich |
1st | odd | 7 January 1997 | 13 November 1997 | Thurmond | Gingrich | |
104th | 2nd | even | 3 January 1996 | 4 October 1996 | Thurmond | Gingrich |
1st | odd | 4 January 1995 | 2 January 1996 | Thurmond (returning) | Gingrich, Newt (Rep.- Georgia) | |
103rd | 2nd | even(ld) | 25 January 1994 | 1 December 1994 | Byrd | Foley |
1st | odd | 5 January 1993 | 26 November 1993 | Byrd | Foley | |
102nd | 2nd | even | 3 January 1992 | 9 October 1992 | Byrd | Foley |
1st | odd | 3 January 1991 | 2 January 1992 | Byrd | Foley | |
101st | 2nd | even | 23 January 1990 | 28 October 1990 | Byrd | Foley |
1st | odd | 3 January 1989 | 22 November 1989 | Byrd, Robert C. (Dem.- West Virginia) | Wright ; Foley, Thomas S. (Dem.- Washington) | |
House Speaker James C. Wright resigned that office on 6 June 1989; Congressman Foley was elected Speaker by the House that same day. | ||||||
100th | 2nd | even | 25 January 1988 | 22 October 1988 | Stennis | Wright |
1st | odd | 6 January 1987 | 22 December 1987 | Stennis, John C. (Dem.- Mississippi) | Wright, James C. (Dem.- Texas) | |
99th | 2nd | even | 21 January 1986 | 18 October 1986 | Thurmond | O'Neill |
1st | odd | 3 January 1985 | 20 December 1985 | Thurmond | O'Neill | |
98th | 2nd | even | 23 January 1984 | 12 October 1984 | Thurmond | O'Neill |
1st | odd | 3 January 1983 | 18 November 1983 | Thurmond | O'Neill | |
97th | 2nd | even(ld) | 25 January 1982 | 23 December 1982 | Thurmond | O'Neill |
1st | odd | 5 January 1981 | 16 December 1981 | Thurmond, Strom (Rep.-South Carolina) | O'Neill | |
96th | 2nd | even | 3 January 1980 | 15 October 1980 | Magnuson | O'Neill |
1st | odd | 15 January 1979 | 2 January 1980 | Magnuson, Warren G. (Dem.- Washington) | O'Neill | |
95th | 2nd | even | 19 January 1978 | 15 October 1978 | Eastland | O'Neill |
1st | odd | 4 January 1977 | 15 December 1977 | Eastland | O'Neill, Thomas P. "Tip" (Dem.- Massachusetts) | |
94th | 2nd | even | 19 January 1976 | 1 October 1976 | Eastland | Albert |
1st | odd | 14 January 1975 | 19 December 1975 | Eastland | Albert | |
93rd | 2nd | even(ld) | 21 January 1974 | 20 December 1974 | Eastland | Albert |
Senate President pro Tempore James O. Eastland served as acting President of the Senate during the 2nd ("even") session of the 93rd Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States: from 9 August 1974 (Vice President Gerald R. Ford having succeeded to the Presidency upon the resignation of President Richard M. Nixon) to 19 December 1974 (Nelson A. Rockefeller having been confirmed by Congress as Vice President as per the provisions of the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution); during this same period, House Speaker Carl Albert was next in line to the Presidency under the 1947 Presidential Succession Act. | ||||||
1st | odd | 3 January 1973 | 22 December 1973 | Eastland | Albert | |
Senate President pro Tempore James O. Eastland served as acting President of the Senate during the 1st ("odd") session of the 93rd Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States: from 10 October 1973 (Vice President Spiro T. Agnew having resigned) to 6 December 1973 (Gerald R. Ford having been confirmed by Congress as Vice President as per the provisions of the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution); during this same period, House Speaker Carl Albert was next in line to the Presidency under the 1947 Presidential Succession Act. | ||||||
92nd | 2nd | even | 18 January 1972 | 18 October 1972 | Ellender ; Eastland, James O. (Dem.- Mississippi) | Albert |
Senate President pro Tempore Allen J. Ellender died on 27 July 1972; Senator Eastland was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate the following day (28 July 1972). | ||||||
1st | odd | 21 January 1971 | 17 December 1971 | Ellender, Allen J. (Dem.-Louisiana) | Carl Albert (Dem.-Oklahoma) | |
Senate President pro Tempore Richard B. Russell died on 21 January 1971, the very day the 1st ("odd") session of the 92nd Congress convened: Senator Ellender was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate the following day (22 January 1972); thus, for all practical purposes, Senator Russell never actually served as President pro Tempore during the 92nd Congress. | ||||||
91st | 2nd | even(ld) | 19 January 1970 | 2 January 1971 | Russell | McCormack |
1st | odd | 3 January 1969 | 23 December 1969 | Russell, Richard B. (Dem.- Georgia) | McCormack | |
90th | 2nd | even | 15 January 1968 | 14 October 1968 | Hayden | McCormack |
1st | odd | 10 January 1967 | 15 December 1967 | Hayden | McCormack | |
89th | 2nd | even | 10 January 1966 | 22 October 1966 | Hayden | McCormack |
1st | odd | 4 January 1965 | 23 October 1965 | Hayden | McCormack | |
Senate President pro Tempore Carl Hayden served as acting President of the Senate during this "odd" session of the 89th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States until Noon on 20 January 1965 (when Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey was sworn in for a full four-year term in that office); during this same period, House Speaker John W. McCormack was next in line to the Presidency under the 1947 Presidential Succession Act. | ||||||
88th | 2nd | even | 7 January 1964 | 3 October 1964 | Hayden | McCormack |
Senate President pro Tempore Carl Hayden served as acting President of the Senate throughout this "even" session of the 88th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Lyndon Baines Johnson having succeeded to the Presidency during the previous "odd" session); during this same period, House Speaker John W. McCormack was next in line to the Presidency under the 1947 Presidential Succession Act. | ||||||
1st | odd | 9 January 1963 | 30 December 1963 | Hayden | McCormack | |
Senate President pro Tempore Carl Hayden served as acting President of the Senate during this "odd" session of the 88th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States from 22 November 1963 (Vice President Lyndon Baines Johnson having succeeded to the Presidency upon the death of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy); during this same period, House Speaker John W. McCormack was next in line to the Presidency under the 1947 Presidential Succession Act. | ||||||
87th | 2nd | even | 10 January 1962 | 13 October 1962 | Hayden | McCormack, John W. (Dem.- Massachusetts) |
House Speaker Sam Rayburn had died on 16 November 1961; Congressman McCormack was elected to succeed him upon the convening of this "even" session of the 87th Congress. | ||||||
1st | odd | 3 January 1961 | 27 September 1961 | Hayden | Rayburn | |
86th | 2nd | even | 6 January 1960 | 1 September 1960 | Hayden | Rayburn |
1st | odd | 7 January 1959 | 15 September 1959 | Hayden | Rayburn | |
85th | 2nd | even | 7 January 1958 | 24 August 1958 | Hayden | Rayburn |
1st | odd | 3 January 1957 | 30 August 1957 | Hayden, Carl (Dem.- Arizona) | Rayburn | |
84th | 2nd | even | 3 January 1956 | 27 July 1956 | George | Rayburn |
1st | odd | 5 January 1955 | 2 August 1955 | George, Walter F. (Dem.- Georgia) | Rayburn (returning) | |
83rd | 2nd | even(ld) | 6 January 1954 | 2 December 1954 | Bridges | Martin |
1st | odd | 3 January 1953 | 3 August 1953 | Bridges, H. Styles (Rep.- New Hampshire) | Martin (returning) | |
82nd | 2nd | even | 8 January 1952 | 7 July 1952 | McKellar | Rayburn |
1st | odd | 3 January 1951 | 20 October 1951 | McKellar | Rayburn | |
81st | 2nd | even(ld) | 3 January 1950 | 2 January 1951 | McKellar | Rayburn |
1st | odd | 3 January 1949 | 19 October 1949 | McKellar (returning) | Rayburn (returning) | |
Senate President pro Tempore Kenneth McKellar served as acting President of the Senate during this "odd" session of the 81st Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States until Noon on 20 January 1949 (when Vice President Alben W. Barkley was sworn in for a full four-year term in that office); during this same period, House Speaker Sam Rayburn was next in line to the Presidency under the 1947 Presidential Succession Act. | ||||||
80th | 2nd | even(ld) | 6 January 1948 | 31 December 1948 | Vandenberg | Martin |
Senate President pro Tempore Arthur H. Vandenberg served as acting President of the Senate during the entirety of the 80th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Harry S Truman having succeeded to the Presidency during the preceding Congress); during this 2d "even" session of the 80th Congress, House Speaker Joseph W. Martin was next in line to the Presidency under the 1947 Presidential Succession Act. | ||||||
1st | odd | 3 January 1947 | 19 December 1947 | Vandenberg, Arthur H. (Rep.- Michigan) | Martin, Joseph W. (Rep.- Massachusetts) | |
Senate President pro Tempore Arthur H. Vandenberg served as acting President of the Senate during the entirety of the 80th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Harry S Truman having succeeded to the Presidency during the preceding Congress). | ||||||
79th | 2nd | even | 14 January 1946 | 2 August 1946 | McKellar | Rayburn |
Senate President pro Tempore Kenneth McKellar served as acting President of the Senate throughout this "even" session of the 79th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Harry S Truman having succeeded to the Presidency during the previous ["odd"] session of that Congress). | ||||||
1st | odd | 3 January 1945 | 21 December 1945 | McKellar, Kenneth (Dem.- Tennessee) | Rayburn | |
Senate President pro Tempore Kenneth McKellar served as acting President of the Senate during this "odd" session of the 79th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States from 12 April 1945 (Vice President Harry S Truman having succeeded to the Presidency upon the death of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt). | ||||||
78th | 2nd | even(ld) | 10 January 1944 | 19 December 1944 | Glass | Rayburn |
1st | odd | 6 January 1943 | 21 December 1943 | Glass | Rayburn | |
77th | 2nd | even(ld) | 5 January 1942 | 16 December 1942 | Glass | Rayburn |
1st | odd | 3 January 1941 | 2 January 1942 | Harrison, Pat (Dem.- Miss.); Glass, Carter (Dem.- Virginia) | Rayburn | |
Senate President pro Tempore Pat Harrison died on 22 June 1941; Senator Glass was elected to succeed him on 10 July 1941. | ||||||
76th | 3rd | even(ld) | 3 January 1940 | 2 January 1941 | Pittman; King, William H. (Dem.- Utah) | Bankhead; Rayburn, Sam (Dem.- Texas) |
Senate President pro Tempore Key Pittman died on 10 November 1940; Senator King was elected to succeed him on 19 November 1940. House Speaker William B. Bankhead died on 15 September 1940; Congressman Rayburn was elected to succeed him the following day (16 September). | ||||||
2nd | Extra | 21 September 1939 | 3 November 1939 | Pittman | Bankhead | |
This "extra" Session of the 76th Congress was called by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt via executive Proclamation issued on 13 September 1939. | ||||||
1st | odd | 3 January 1939 | 5 August 1939 | Pittman | Bankhead | |
75th | 3rd | even | 3 January 1938 | 16 June 1938 | Pittman | Bankhead |
2nd | Extra | 15 November 1937 | 21 December 1937 | Pittman | Bankhead | |
This "extra" Session of the 75th Congress was called by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt via executive Proclamation issued on 12 October 1937. | ||||||
1st | odd | 5 January 1937 | 21 August 1937 | Pittman | Bankhead | |
74th | 2nd | even | 3 January 1936 | 20 June 1936 | Pittman | Byrns; Bankhead, William B. (Dem.- Alabama) |
House Speaker Joseph W. Byrns died on 4 June 1936; Congressman Bankhead was elected to succeed him on the same day. | ||||||
1st | odd | 3 January 1935 | 26 August 1935 | Pittman | Byrns, Joseph W. (Dem.- Tennessee) | |
73rd | 2nd | even | 3 January 1934 | 18 June 1934 | Pittman | Rainey |
The "Hundred Days" 1st session of the 73rd Congress having fulfilled the constitutional requirement in the newly adopted 20th Amendment that "The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year", this 2nd session of that Congress was simply the newly-established "even" session under the 20th Amendment and is, thus, listed in this chart as such. | ||||||
1st | Extra/odd | 9 March 1933 | 15 June 1933 | Pittman, Key (Dem.- Nevada) | Rainey, Henry T. (Dem.- Illinois) | |
The 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution- changing the commencement of the terms of the President, Vice President from 4 March to 20 January and the commencement of terms of Members of Congress (both Senators and Congressmen) from 4 March to 3 January as well as the date for convening regular sessions of Congress from the first Monday in December to 3 January- was declared ratified on 6 February 1933, before the 73rd Congress had even taken office the following 4 March and it was, thus, already known- when that Congress began- that the new date of 3 January for convening sessions of Congress and the start of terms of its Members would be the date of convening the 2nd session of the 73rd Congress. Accordingly, newly inaugurated President Franklin Delano Roosevelt invoked his authority to call Congress into "extra" session (under the pre-20th Amendment schedule, the 1st regular "long" session of the 73rd Congress would not otherwise have begun until 4 December 1933)- this 1st session becoming known as the famous "Hundred Days" of the early New Deal era- but it was, from its beginning, treated as being, in fact, the newly-established "odd" session under the soon-to-be-effective 20th Amendment (hence its being listed herein as both an "extra" session and a regular "odd" session). | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1933 | 6 March 1933 | none | - - - - | |
72nd | 2nd | short | 5 December 1932 | 3 March 1933 | Moses | Garner |
1st | long | 7 December 1931 | 16 July 1932 | Moses | Garner, John Nance (Dem.- Texas) | |
71st | 3rd | short | 1 December 1930 | 3 March 1931 | Moses | Longworth |
Special | SENATE | 7 July 1930 | 21 July 1930 | Moses | - - - - | |
2nd | long | 2 December 1929 | 3 July 1930 | Moses | Longworth | |
1st | Extra | 15 April 1929 | 22 November 1929 | Moses | Longworth | |
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1929 | 5 March 1929 | Moses | - - - - | |
70th | 2nd | short | 3 December 1928 | 3 March 1929 | Moses | Longworth |
1st | long | 5 December 1927 | 29 May 1928 | Moses | Longworth | |
69th | 2nd | short | 6 December 1926 | 3 March 1927 | Moses | Longworth |
Impeachment | SENATE | 10 November 1926 | same day | Moses | - - - - | |
On 1 April 1926, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Judge George W. English of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois. In the resolution under which both houses of Congress agreed to adjourn the 1st "long" session of the 69th Congress on 3 July 1926 was a provision requiring the Senate alone to reconvene 10 November 1926 in order to sit as a Court of Impeachment in the trial of Judge English. Judge English, however, resigned from the bench just before his trial before the Senate was to begin and the so-called "Impeachment" session of the Senate (the only time the Senate has ever held a session apart from the "normal" sessions of Congress in order to sit as a Court of Impeachment) met on 10 November solely to adjourn the Court of Impeachment "sine die". On 13 December 1926, during the 2nd "short" session of the 69th Congress, the Senate- on the advice of the House managers of Judge English's impeachment- formally dismissed all the charges pending against the Judge. | ||||||
1st | long | 7 December 1925 | 3 July 1926 | Moses | Longworth, Nicholas (Rep.- Ohio) | |
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1925 | 18 March 1925 | Moses, George H. (Rep.- New Hampshire) | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Calvin Coolidge via executive Proclamation issued on 14 February 1925. | ||||||
68th | 2nd | short | 1 December 1924 | 3 March 1925 | Cummins | Gillett |
Senate President pro Tempore Albert B. Cummins served as acting President of the Senate during both the "long" and "short" sessions of the 68th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Calvin Coolidge having succeeded to the Presidency upon the death of President Warren G. Harding on 2 August 1923). | ||||||
1st | long | 3 December 1923 | 7 June 1924 | Cummins | Gillett | |
67th | 4th | short | 4 December 1922 | 3 March 1923 | Cummins | Gillett |
3rd | Extra | 20 November 1922 | 2 December 1922 | Cummins | Gillett | |
This "extra" Session of the 67th Congress was called by President Warren G. Harding via executive Proclamation issued on 9 November 1922. | ||||||
2nd | long | 5 December 1921 | 22 September 1922 | Cummins | Gillett | |
1st | Extra | 11 April 1921 | 23 November 1921 | Cummins | Gillett | |
This "extra" Session of the 67th Congress was called by President Warren G. Harding via executive Proclamation issued on 22 March 1921. | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1921 | 15 March 1921 | Cummins | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President Woodrow Wilson via executive Proclamation issued on 3 February 1921. | ||||||
66th | 3rd | short | 6 December 1920 | 3 March 1921 | Cummins | Gillett |
2nd | long | 1 December 1919 | 5 June 1920 | Cummins | Gillett | |
1st | Extra | 19 May 1919 | 19 November 1919 | Cummins, Albert B. (Rep.- Iowa) | Gillett, Frederick H. (Rep.- Massachusetts) | |
This "extra" Session of the 66th Congress was called by President Woodrow Wilson via executive Proclamation issued on 7 May 1919. | ||||||
65th | 3rd | short | 2 December 1918 | 3 March 1919 | Saulsbury | Clark |
2nd | long | 3 December 1917 | 21 November 1918 | Saulsbury | Clark | |
1st | Extra | 2 April 1917 | 6 October 1917 | Saulsbury | Clark | |
Special | SENATE | 5 March 1917 | 16 March 1917 | Saulsbury | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Woodrow Wilson via executive Proclamation issued on 23 February 1917. | ||||||
64th | 2nd | short | 4 December 1916 | 3 March 1917 | Saulsbury, Willard (Dem.- Delaware) | Clark |
1st | long | 6 December 1915 | 8 September 1916 | Clarke | Clark | |
63rd | 3rd | short | 7 December 1914 | 3 March 1915 | Clarke | Clark |
2nd | long | 1 December 1913 | 24 October 1914 | Clarke | Clark | |
1st | Extra | 7 April 1913 | 30 November 1913 | Clarke | Clark | |
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1913 | 17 March 1913 | Clarke, James P. (Dem.- Arkansas) | - - - - | |
62nd | 3rd | short | 2 December 1912 | 3 March 1913 | Bacon & Gallinger | Clark |
Senators Bacon and Gallinger alternated as Presidents pro Tempore throughout most of this "short" session of the 62nd Congress; during this session, they each served as acting President of the Senate due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President James S. Sherman having died in office on 30 October 1912, before the convening of this session). | ||||||
2nd | long | 4 December 1911 | 26 August 1912 | Bacon, Augustus (Dem.-Georgia)& Gallinger, Jacob (Rep.- New Hampshire) | Clark | |
Senators Bacon and Gallinger alternated as Presidents pro Tempore throughout most of this "long" session of the 62nd Congress; others who served briefly as Presidents pro Tempore during this "long" session of that Congress were Frank B. Brandegee (Rep.- Connecticut), Charles Curtis (Rep.- Kansas) and Henry Cabot Lodge (Rep.- Massachusetts). | ||||||
1st | Extra | 4 April 1911 | 22 August 1911 | Frye | Clark, James Beauchamp ["Champ"] (Dem.- Missouri) | |
This "extra" Session of the 62nd Congress was called by President William Howard Taft via executive Proclamation issued on 4 March 1911. | ||||||
61st | 3rd | short | 5 December 1910 | 3 March 1911 | Frye | Cannon |
2nd | long | 6 December 1909 | 25 June 1910 | Frye | Cannon | |
1st | Extra | 15 March 1909 | 5 August 1909 | Frye | Cannon | |
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1909 | 6 March 1909 | Frye | - - - - | |
60th | 2nd | short | 7 December 1908 | 3 March 1909 | Frye | Cannon |
1st | long | 2 December 1907 | 30 May 1908 | Frye | Cannon | |
59th | 2nd | short | 3 December 1906 | 3 March 1907 | Frye | Cannon |
1st | long | 4 December 1905 | 30 June 1906 | Frye | Cannon | |
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1905 | 18 March 1905 | Frye | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Theodore Roosevelt via executive Proclamation issued on 23 February 1905. | ||||||
58th | 3rd | short | 5 December 1904 | 3 March 1905 | Frye | Cannon |
Senate President pro Tempore William P. Frye served as acting President of the Senate during the entirety of the 58th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Theodore Roosevelt having succeeded to the Presidency during the preceding Congress). | ||||||
2nd | long | 7 December 1903 | 28 April 1904 | Frye | Cannon | |
1st | Extra | 9 November 1903 | 6 December 1903 | Frye | Cannon, Joseph G. (Rep.- Illinois) | |
This "extra" Session of the 58th Congress was called by President Theodore Roosevelt via executive Proclamation issued on 20 October 1903. | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 5 March 1903 | 19 March 1903 | Frye | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Theodore Roosevelt via executive Proclamation issued on 2 March 1903. | ||||||
57th | 2nd | short | 1 December 1902 | 3 March 1903 | Frye | Henderson |
Senate President pro Tempore William P. Frye served as acting President of the Senate throughout this "short" session of the 57th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Theodore Roosevelt having succeeded to the Presidency earlier in the Congress). | ||||||
1st | long | 2 December 1901 | 1 July 1902 | Frye | Henderson | |
Senate President pro Tempore William P. Frye served as acting President of the Senate throughout this "long" session of the 57th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Theodore Roosevelt having succeeded to the Presidency upon the death of President William McKinley on 14 September 1901, before the convening of this session). | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1901 | 9 March 1901 | Frye | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President William McKinley via executive Proclamation issued on 23 February 1901. | ||||||
56th | 2nd | short | 3 December 1900 | 3 March 1901 | Frye | Henderson |
Senate President pro Tempore William P. Frye served as acting President of the Senate throughout this "short" session of the 56th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Garret A. Hobart having died in office earlier in the Congress). | ||||||
1st | long | 4 December 1899 | 7 June 1900 | Frye | Henderson, David B. (Rep.- Iowa) | |
Senate President pro Tempore William P. Frye served as acting President of the Senate throughout this "long" session of the 56th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Garret A. Hobart having died in office on 21 November 1899, before the convening of this session). | ||||||
55th | 3rd | short | 5 December 1898 | 3 March 1899 | Frye | Reed |
2nd | long | 6 December 1897 | 8 July 1898 | Frye | Reed | |
1st | Extra | 15 March 1897 | 24 July 1897 | Frye | Reed | |
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1897 | 10 March 1897 | Frye | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President Grover Cleveland via executive Proclamation issued on 24 February 1897. | ||||||
54th | 2nd | short | 7 December 1896 | 3 March 1897 | Frye | Reed |
1st | long | 2 December 1895 | 11 June 1896 | Frye, William P. (Rep.- Maine) | Reed, T.B. (returning) | |
53rd | 3rd | short | 3 December 1894 | 3 March 1895 | Ransom, Matt W. (Dem.- No. Carolina); Harris (returning) | Crisp |
Senate President pro Tempore Matt W. Ransom resigned that office on 10 January 1895; Senator Harris was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate that same day. | ||||||
2nd | long | 4 December 1893 | 28 August 1894 | Harris | Crisp | |
1st | Extra | 7 August 1893 | 3 November 1893 | Harris | Crisp | |
This "extra" Session of the 53rd Congress was called by President Grover Cleveland via executive Proclamation issued on 30 June 1893. | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1893 | 15 April 1893 | Harris, Isham G. (Dem.- Tennessee) | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President Benjamin Harrison via executive Proclamation issued on 25 February 1893. | ||||||
52nd | 2nd | short | 5 December 1892 | 3 March 1893 | Manderson | Crisp |
1st | long | 7 December 1891 | 5 August 1892 | Manderson, Charles F. (Rep.- Nebraska) | Crisp, Charles F. (Dem.- Georgia) | |
51st | 2nd | short | 1 December 1890 | 2 March 1891 | Ingalls | Reed |
1st | long | 2 December 1889 | 1 October 1890 | Ingalls | Reed, Thomas B. (Rep.- Maine) | |
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1889 | 2 April 1889 | Ingalls | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President Grover Cleveland via executive Proclamation issued on 26 February 1889. | ||||||
50th | 2nd | short | 3 December 1888 | 3 March 1889 | Ingalls | Carlisle |
Senate President pro Tempore John J. Ingalls served as acting President of the Senate during the entirety of the 50th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Thomas A. Hendricks having died in office during the preceding Congress). | ||||||
1st | long | 5 December 1887 | 20 October 1888 | Ingalls | Carlisle | |
49th | 2nd | short | 6 December 1886 | 3 March 1887 | Sherman; Ingalls, John J. (Rep.- Kansas) | Carlisle |
Senate President pro Tempore John Sherman resigned that office on 25 February 1887; Senator Ingalls was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate that same day. Senate Presidents pro Tempore Sherman and Ingalls each served as acting President of the Senate due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States throughout this "short" session of the 27th Congress (Vice President Thomas A. Hendricks having died in office earlier in this Congress). | ||||||
1st | long | 7 December 1885 | 5 August 1886 | Sherman, John (Rep.- Ohio) | Carlisle | |
Senate President pro Tempore John Sherman served as acting President of the Senate throughout this "long" session of the 49th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Thomas A. Hendricks having died in office on 25 November 1885, before the convening of this session). | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1885 | 2 April 1885 | none | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President Chester A. Arthur via executive Proclamation issued on 27 February 1885; no President pro Tempore was elected by the Senate as Vice President Thomas A. Hendricks presided over the entire session. | ||||||
48th | 2nd | short | 1 December 1884 | 3 March 1885 | Edmunds | Carlisle |
Senate President pro Tempore George F. Edmunds served as acting President of the Senate during the entirety of the 48th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Chester A. Arthur having succeeded to the Presidency during the preceding Congress). | ||||||
1st | long | 3 December 1883 | 7 July 1884 | Edmunds, George F. (Rep.- Vermont) | Carlisle, John G. (Dem.- Kentucky) | |
47th | 2nd | short | 4 December 1882 | 3 March 1883 | Davis | Keifer |
Senate President pro Tempore David Davis served as acting President of the Senate throughout this "short" session of the 47th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Chester A. Arthur having succeeded to the Presidency earlier in the Congress). | ||||||
1st | long | 5 December 1881 | 8 August 1882 | Davis | Keifer, J. Warren (Rep.- Ohio) | |
Senate President pro Tempore David Davis served as acting President of the Senate throughout this "long" session of the 47th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Chester A. Arthur having succeeded to the Presidency earlier in the Congress). | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 10 October 1881 | 29 October 1881 | Davis, David (Ind.- Illinois) | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Chester A. Arthur via executive Proclamation issued on 23 September 1881. Senate President pro Tempore David Davis served as acting President of the Senate throughout this Special session of the SENATE due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Chester A. Arthur having succeeded to the Presidency upon the death of President James A. Garfield on 19 September 1881, before the convening of this Special SENATE session). | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1881 | 20 May 1881 | Bayard, Thomas F. (Dem.- Delaware) | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President Rutherford B. Hayes via executive Proclamation issued on 28 February 1881. | ||||||
46th | 3rd | short | 6 December 1880 | 3 March 1881 | Thurman | Randall |
2nd | long | 1 December 1879 | 16 June 1880 | Thurman | Randall | |
1st | Extra | 18 March 1879 | 1 July 1879 | Thurman, Allen G. (Dem.- Ohio) | Randall | |
This "extra" Session of the 46th Congress was called by President Rutherford B. Hayes via executive Proclamation issued on 4 March 1879. | ||||||
45th | 3rd | short | 2 December 1878 | 3 March 1879 | Ferry | Randall |
2nd | long | 3 December 1877 | 20 June 1878 | Ferry | Randall | |
1st | Extra | 15 October 1877 | 2 December 1877 | Ferry | Randall | |
This "extra" Session of the 45th Congress was called by President Rutherford B. Hayes via executive Proclamation issued on 5 May 1877. | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 5 March 1877 | 17 March 1877 | Ferry | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President Ulysses S. Grant via executive Proclamation issued on 2 March 1877. | ||||||
44th | 2nd | short | 4 December 1876 | 3 March 1877 | Ferry | Randall, Samuel J. (Dem.- Pennsylvania) |
House Speaker Michael C. Kerr had died on 19 August 1876; Congressman Randall was elected to succeed him upon the convening of this "short" session of the 44th Congress. Senate President pro Tempore Thomas W. Ferry served as acting President of the Senate throughout this "short" session of the 44th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Henry Wilson having died in office earlier in the Congress). | ||||||
1st | long | 6 December 1875 | 15 August 1876 | Ferry | Kerr, Michael C. (Dem.- Indiana) | |
Senate President pro Tempore Thomas W. Ferry served as acting President of the Senate throughout this "long" session of the 44th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Henry Wilson having died in office on 22 November 1875, before the convening of this session). | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 5 March 1875 | 24 March 1875 | Ferry, Thomas W. (Rep.- Michigan) | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Ulysses S. Grant via executive Proclamation issued on 17 February 1875. | ||||||
43rd | 2nd | short | 7 December 1874 | 3 March 1875 | Carpenter; Anthony (returning) | Blaine |
Senator Anthony was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate in place of Senator Carpenter on 25 January 1875. | ||||||
1st | long | 1 December 1873 | 23 June 1874 | Carpenter | Blaine | |
NOTE: The act of 22 January 1867 mandating that a given Congress first meet in "extra" session on the 4 March next following its election had been repealed during the preceding [42nd] Congress; thus, the authority to call Congress into "extra" session was, thereby, returned to the President who would once again only do so by executive Proclamation and the 1st full session of the 43rd Congress was the regular "long" session which convened on the first Monday in December as mandated by Article I, Section 4, clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution. | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1873 | 26 March 1873 | Carpenter, Matthew H. (Rep.- Wisconsin) | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Ulysses S. Grant via executive Proclamation issued on 21 February 1873. | ||||||
42nd | 3rd | short | 2 December 1872 | 3 March 1873 | Anthony | Blaine |
2nd | long | 4 December 1871 | 10 June 1872 | Anthony | Blaine | |
Special | SENATE | 10 May 1871 | 27 May 1871 | Anthony | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Ulysses S. Grant via executive Proclamation issued on 20 April 1871. | ||||||
1st | Extra | 4 March 1871 | 20 April 1871 | Anthony | Blaine | |
This "extra" Session of the 42nd Congress was mandated by the act of 22 January 1867 which required that a given Congress convene on the 4 March next following its election as well as on the constitutionally mandated date of the first Monday in December in each calendar year. | ||||||
41st | 3rd | short | 5 December 1870 | 3 March 1871 | Anthony | Blaine |
2nd | long | 6 December 1869 | 15 July 1870 | Anthony | Blaine | |
Special | SENATE | 12 April 1869 | 22 April 1869 | Anthony | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Ulysses S. Grant via executive Proclamation issued on 8 April 1869. | ||||||
1st | Extra | 4 March 1869 | 10 April 1869 | Anthony, Henry B. (Rep.- Rhode Island) | Blaine, James G. (Rep.- Maine) | |
This "extra" Session of the 41st Congress was mandated by the act of 22 January 1867 which required that a given Congress convene on the 4 March next following its election as well as on the constitutionally mandated date of the first Monday in December in each calendar year. | ||||||
40th | 3rd | short | 7 December 1868 | 3 March 1869 | Wade | Colfax |
As noted above, with the 3rd "short" session at the end of the 40th Congress, Congress reverted to what hitherto had been the usual practice of meeting in so-called "continuous session" in each calendar year beginning no later than the first Monday in December, as required by the original U.S. Constitution in Article I, Section 4, clause 2, though with the additional proviso that an "extra" session was required to convene on the 4 March immediately following the election of a given Congress for as long as the act of 22 January 1867 were to remain in effect. Senate President pro Tempore Benjamin F. Wade served as acting President of the Senate during the entirety of the 40th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Andrew Johnson having succeeded to the Presidency during the preceding Congress). | ||||||
2nd | long | 2 December 1867 | 10 November 1868 | Wade | Colfax | |
For those using the chart who may need to know the exact dates this 2nd "long" session of the 40th Congress was in session during under so-called "Congressional Government"- a listing follows:
| ||||||
Special | SENATE | 1 April 1867 | 20 April 1867 | Wade | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Andrew Johnson via executive Proclamation issued on 30 March 1867. As noted above, its primary purpose was to allow the President to assert his own constitutional authority- under Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution- to "on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them" in the face of the attempt of the "Radical Republicans" dominating Congress to assert their claim of so-called "Congressional Government" in part through their convening, recessing, reconvening and adjourning both houses of Congress via concurrent resolution rather than meeting- as had hitherto been the practice of Congress- in so-called "continuous session". | ||||||
1st | Extra | 4 March 1867 | 1 December 1867 | Wade, Benjamin F. (Rep.- Ohio) | Colfax | |
Although it was the usual practice prior to the effectiveness of the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution with the 2nd session of the 73th Congress beginning in January 1934 for a.) "extra" sessions to be called by the President apart from the regular "long" and "short" sessions of Congress and b.) any sessions of either or both houses of Congress to be continuous from convening to adjournment "sine die" (without day [that is, a day for the session to next reconvene]), the 40th Congress was a special case in which the calling to order during its first two sessions was taking place against the background of the struggle between Congress, dominated by the so-called "Radical Republicans", and President Andrew Johnson over control of post-Civil War Reconstruction in the South- a struggle which ultimately culminated in the impeachment, but failure to remove from office, of Johnson in the Spring of 1868. Thus, per an act of Congress which became law on 22 January 1867, a Congress would henceforth convene in "extra" session immediately upon the adjournment sine die of the preceding Congress; the purpose was to prevent the President (in this case, Andrew Johnson specifically) from dictating when Congress would meet outside of its annual regular "long" and "short" sessions by keeping the power to convene, recess, reconvene and adjourn solely in the hands of Congress itself. Congress, of course, asserted that it was merely exercising its constitutional power- under Article I, Section 4, clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution- to "appoint a different day" from the mandated meeting date of the first Monday in December in each calendar year. Therefore, this 1st "extra" session of the 40th Congress was mandatory upon Congress under the act of 22 January 1867. In a further attempt to thwart the President, Congress took it upon itself to adjourn and reconvene its legislative sessions subject solely to concurrent resolutions adopted by both houses of Congress (part of a larger, ultimately failed, attempt to establish what historian T. Woodrow Wilson [himself later President of the United States]- in his doctoral thesis- called "Congressional Government", the closest the United States of America ever came to constitutionally establishing a parliamentary democracy in place of the presidential republic at the Federal level); therefore, in both the 1st "Extra" and 2nd "long" sessions of the 40th Congress, Congress recessed and reconvened from time to time without the President having leave to call both houses of Congress together back into session under his own constitutional authority- under Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution- to "on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them". However, after Congress had first adjourned- in modern parlance, recessed- the 1st "extra" session 30 March 1867 to not reconvene until 3 July 1867, President Johnson nevertheless proceeded to call the Senate into Special Session in April of that year in an attempt to assert his own constitutional prerogatives. With the 3rd "short" session at the end of the 40th Congress, Congress reverted to what hitherto had been the usual practice of meeting in so-called "continuous session" in each calendar year beginning no later than the first Monday in December, as required by the original U.S. Constitution in Article I, Section 4, clause 2 (as noted above) with the additional proviso that an "extra" session was required to convene on the 4 March immediately following the election of a given Congress for as long as the act of 22 January 1867 remained in effect. For purposes of this chart, it has been decided to treat the 1st "Extra" and 2nd "long" sessions as if they, too, were held in continuous session; this will explain the apparent nesting of the Special SENATE session of April 1867 inside the convening and adjournment dates of the 1st "Extra" session of the 40th Congress. For those using the chart who may, nonetheless, need to know the exact dates this 1st "extra" session of the 40th Congress was in session during under so-called "Congressional Government"- a listing follows:
| ||||||
39th | 2nd | short | 3 December 1866 | 3 March 1867 | Foster | Colfax |
Senate President pro Tempore Lafayette S. Foster served as acting President of the Senate throughout this "short" session of the 39th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Andrew Johnson having succeeded to the Presidency earlier in this Congress). | ||||||
1st | long | 4 December 1865 | 28 July 1866 | Foster | Colfax | |
Senate President pro Tempore Lafayette S. Foster served as acting President of the Senate throughout this "long" session of the 39th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Andrew Johnson having succeeded to the Presidency upon the death of President Abraham Lincoln on 15 April 1865, before the convening of this session). | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1865 | 11 March 1865 | Foster, Lafayette S. (Rep.- Connecticut) | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Abraham Lincoln via executive Proclamation issued on 17 February 1865. | ||||||
38th | 2nd | short | 5 December 1864 | 3 March 1865 | Clark | Colfax |
1st | long | 7 December 1863 | 4 July 1864 | Foot; Clark, Daniel (Rep.- New Hampshire) | Colfax, Schuyler (Rep.- Indiana) | |
Senator Clark was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate in place of Senator Foot on 26 April 1864. | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1863 | 14 March 1863 | Foot | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Abraham Lincoln via executive Proclamation issued on 28 February 1863. | ||||||
37th | 3rd | short | 1 December 1862 | 3 March 1863 | Foot | Grow |
2nd | long | 2 December 1861 | 17 July 1862 | Foot | Grow | |
1st | Extra | 4 July 1861 | 6 August 1861 | Foot | Grow, Galusha A. (Rep.- Pennsylvania) | |
This "extra" Session of the 37th Congress was called by President Abraham Lincoln via executive Proclamation issued on 15 April 1861. | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1861 | 28 March 1861 | Foot | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President James Buchanan via executive Proclamation issued on 11 February 1861. | ||||||
36th | 2nd | short | 3 December 1860 | 3 March 1861 | Fitzpatrick; Foot, Solomon (Rep.- Vermont) | Pennington |
Senator Foot was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate in place of Senator Fitzpatrick- who had withdrawn from the Senate- on 16 February 1861. | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 26 June 1860 | 28 June 1860 | Fitzpatrick (returning) | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President James Buchanan via executive Proclamation issued on 25 June 1860. | ||||||
1st | long | 5 December 1859 | 25 June 1860 | Fitzpatrick; Bright, J.D. (returning) | Pennington, William (Rep.- New Jersey) | |
Senator Bright was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate in place of Senator Fitzpatrick on 12 June 1860. William Pennington was not elected Speaker by the House until 1 February 1860, upon the 44th viva voce vote. | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1859 | 10 March 1859 | Fitzpatrick | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President James Buchanan via executive Proclamation issued on 26 February 1859. | ||||||
35th | 2nd | short | 6 December 1858 | 3 March 1859 | Fitzpatrick | Orr |
Special | SENATE | 15 June 1858 | 16 June 1858 | Fitzpatrick | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President James Buchanan via executive Proclamation issued on 14 June 1858. | ||||||
1st | long | 7 December 1857 | 14 June 1858 | Fitzpatrick, Benjamin (Dem.- Alabama) | Orr, James L. (Dem.- South Carolina) | |
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1857 | 14 March 1857 | Mason; Rusk, Thomas J. (Dem.- Texas) | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President Franklin Pierce via executive Proclamation issued on 16 February 1857. Senator Rusk was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate in place of Senator Mason on 14 March 1857. | ||||||
34th | 3rd | short | 1 December 1856 | 3 March 1857 | Mason, James M. (Dem.- Virginia) | Banks |
Senate President pro Tempore James M. Mason served as acting President of the Senate throughout this "short" session of the 34th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President William R. King having died in office during the previous Congress). | ||||||
2nd | Extra | 21 August 1856 | 30 August 1856 | Bright | Banks | |
This "extra" Session of the 34th Congress was called by President Franklin Pierce via executive Proclamation issued on 18 August 1856. Senate President pro Tempore Jesse D. Bright served as acting President of the Senate throughout both the "long" and "extra" sessions of the 34th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President William R. King having died in office during the preceding Congress). | ||||||
1st | long | 3 December 1855 | 18 August 1856 | Bright | Banks, Nathaniel P. (Amer.- Massachusetts) | |
33rd | 2nd | short | 4 December 1854 | 3 March 1855 | Cass, Lewis (Dem.- Michigan); Bright, Jesse (Dem.- Indiana) | Boyd |
Senator Bright was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate in place of Senator Cass on 5 December 1854. Senate President pro Tempores Cass and Bright each served as acting President of the Senate due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States throughout this "short" session of the 33rd Congress (Vice President William R. King having died in office earlier in this Congress) | ||||||
1st | long | 5 December 1853 | 7 August 1854 | Atchison | Boyd | |
Senate President pro Tempore David Rice Atchison served as acting President of the Senate throughout this "long" session of the 33rd Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President William R. King having died in office on 18 April 1853, before the convening of this session). | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1853 | 11 April 1853 | Atchison | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President Millard Fillmore via executive Proclamation issued on 25 February 1853. | ||||||
32nd | 2nd | short | 6 December 1852 | 3 March 1853 | Atchison, D.R. (returning) | Boyd |
Senate President pro Tempores King and Atchison each served as acting President of the Senate throughout the entirety of the 32nd Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Millard Fillmore having succeeded to the Presidency during the preceding Congress). | ||||||
1st | long | 1 December 1851 | 31 August 1852 | King | Boyd, Linn (Dem.- Kentucky) | |
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1851 | 13 March 1851 | King | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Millard Fillmore via executive Proclamation issued on 3 March 1851. | ||||||
31st | 2nd | short | 2 December 1850 | 3 March 1851 | King | Cobb |
Senate President pro Tempore William R. King served as acting President of the Senate throughout this "short" session of the 31st Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Millard Fillmore having succeeded to the Presidency earlier in this Congress). | ||||||
1st | long | 3 December 1849 | 30 September 1850 | King, W.R. (returning) | Cobb, Howell (Dem.- Georgia) | |
Senate President pro Tempore William R. King became acting President of the Senate during the "long" session of the 31st Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States from 9 July 1850 (Vice President Millard Fillmore having succeeded to the Presidency upon the death of President Zachary Taylor). | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 5 March 1849 | 23 March 1849 | Atchison | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President James Knox Polk via executive Proclamation issued on 2 January 1849. | ||||||
30th | 2nd | short | 4 December 1848 | 3 March 1849 | Atchison | Winthrop |
1st | long | 6 December 1847 | 14 August 1848 | Atchison | Winthrop, Robert C. (Whig- Massachusetts) | |
29th | 2nd | short | 7 December 1846 | 3 March 1847 | Atchison, David Rice (Dem.- Missouri) | Davis |
1st | long | 1 December 1845 | 10 August 1846 | Sevier, Ambrose H. (Dem.- Arkansas) | Davis, John W. (Dem.- Indiana) | |
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1845 | 20 March 1845 | none | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President John Tyler via executive Proclamation issued on 8 January 1845; no President pro Tempore was elected by the Senate, as Vice President George M. Dallas presided over the entire session. | ||||||
28th | 2nd | short | 2 December 1844 | 3 March 1845 | Mangum | Jones |
Senate President pro Tempore Willie P. Mangum served as acting President of the Senate during the entirety of the 28th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President John Tyler having succeeded to the Presidency during the preceding Congress). | ||||||
1st | long | 4 December 1843 | 17 June 1844 | Mangum | Jones, John W. (Dem.- Virginia) | |
27th | 3rd | short | 5 December 1842 | 3 March 1843 | Mangum | White |
Senate President pro Tempore Willie P. Mangum served as acting President of the Senate throughout this "short" session of the 27th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President John Tyler having succeeded to the Presidency earlier in this Congress). | ||||||
2nd | long | 6 December 1841 | 31 August 1842 | Southard; Mangum, Willie P. (Whig- North Carolina) | White | |
Senate President pro Tempore Samuel L. Southard resigned that office on 31 May 1842; Senator Mangum was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate that same day. Senate Presidents pro Tempore Southard and Mangum each served as acting President of the Senate due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States throughout this "long" session of the 27th Congress (Vice President John Tyler having succeeded to the Presidency earlier in this Congress). | ||||||
1st | Extra | 31 May 1841 | 13 September 1841 | Southard, Samuel L. (Whig- New Jersey) | White, John (Whig- Kentucky) | |
This "extra" Session of the 27th Congress was called by President William Henry Harrison via executive Proclamation issued on 17 March 1841; by the time this session had convened, President Harrison had died in office and Vice President John Tyler had succeeded to the Presidency. Senate President pro Tempore Samuel L. Southard served as acting President of the Senate throughout this "extra"session of the 27th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President John Tyler having succeeded to the Presidency upon the death of President William Henry Harrison on 4 April 1841, before the convening of this session). | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1841 | 15 March 1841 | King | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President Martin Van Buren via executive Proclamation issued on 6 January 1841. | ||||||
26th | 2nd | short | 7 December 1840 | 3 March 1841 | King | Hunter |
1st | long | 2 December 1839 | 21 July 1840 | King | Hunter, Robert M.T. (Whig- Virginia) | |
25th | 3rd | short | 3 December 1838 | 3 March 1839 | King | Polk |
2nd | long | 4 December 1837 | 9 July 1838 | King | Polk | |
1st | Extra | 4 September 1837 | 16 October 1837 | King | Polk | |
This "extra" Session of the 25th Congress was called by President Martin Van Buren via executive Proclamation issued on 15 May 1837. | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1837 | 10 March 1837 | King | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President Andrew Jackson via executive Proclamation issued on 20 December 1836. | ||||||
24th | 2nd | short | 5 December 1836 | 3 March 1837 | King | Polk |
1st | long | 7 December 1835 | 4 July 1836 | King, William R. (Dem.- Alabama) | Polk, James Knox (Dem.- Tennessee) | |
23rd | 2nd | short | 1 December 1834 | 3 March 1835 | Tyler, John (Dem.- Virginia) | Bell |
1st | long | 2 December 1833 | 30 June 1834 | Poindexter, George (Dem.- Mississippi) | Stevenson; Bell, John (Nat. Rep.- Tennessee) | |
Speaker Andrew Stevenson resigned from the House of Representatives on 2 June 1834; Congressman Bell was elected Speaker by the House that same day. | ||||||
22nd | 2nd | short | 3 December 1832 | 2 March 1833 | White, Hugh Lawson (Dem.-Rep. : Tennessee) | Stevenson |
Senate President pro Tempore Hugh Lawson White served as acting President of the Senate during the "short" session of the 22nd Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President John Calhoun having resigned on 28 December 1832). | ||||||
1st | long | 5 December 1831 | 16 July 1832 | Tazewell, Littleton W. (Dem.-Rep. : Virginia) | Stevenson | |
21st | 2nd | short | 6 December 1830 | 3 March 1831 | Smith | Stevenson |
1st | long | 7 December 1829 | 31 May 1830 | Smith | Stevenson (NOW Dem.-Rep.) | |
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1829 | 17 March 1829 | Smith (NOW Dem.-Rep.) | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President John Qunicy Adams via executive Proclamation issued on 12 January 1829. | ||||||
20th | 2nd | short | 1 December 1828 | 3 March 1829 | Smith | Stevenson |
1st | long | 3 December 1827 | 26 May 1828 | Smith, Samuel (Jackson Rep.- Maryland) | Stevenson, Andrew (Jackson Rep.- Virginia) | |
19th | 2nd | short | 4 December 1826 | 3 March 1827 | Macon, Nathaniel (Jackson Rep.- North Carolina) | Taylor |
1st | long | 5 December 1825 | 22 May 1826 | Gaillard (NOW Jackson Rep.) | Taylor, J.W. (Jackson Rep.- returning) | |
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1825 | 9 March 1825 | Gaillard | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President James Monroe via executive Proclamation issued on 19 January 1825. | ||||||
18th | 2nd | short | 6 December 1824 | 3 March 1825 | Gaillard | Clay |
1st | long | 1 December 1823 | 27 May 1824 | Gaillard | Clay, H. (returning) | |
17th | 2nd | short | 2 December 1822 | 3 March 1823 | Gaillard | Barbour |
1st | long | 3 December 1821 | 8 May 1822 | Gaillard | Barbour, Philip P. (Rep.- Virginia) | |
16th | 2nd | short | 13 November 1820 | 3 March 1821 | Gaillard | John W. Taylor (Rep.- New York) |
1st | long | 6 December 1819 | 15 May 1820 | Barbour; Gaillard, J. (returning) | Clay | |
Senator Gaillard was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate in place of Senator Barbour on 25 January 1820. | ||||||
15th | 2nd | short | 16 November 1818 | 3 March 1819 | Gaillard; Barbour, James (Rep.- Virginia) | Clay |
Senator Barbour was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate in place of Senator Gaillard on 15 February 1819. | ||||||
1st | long | 1 December 1817 | 20 April 1818 | Gaillard | Clay | |
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1817 | 6 March 1817 | Gaillard | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President James Madison via executive Proclamation issued on 1 January 1817. | ||||||
14th | 2nd | short | 2 December 1816 | 3 March 1817 | Gaillard | Clay |
Senate President pro Tempore John Gaillard served as acting President of the Senate during the entirety of the 14th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President Elbridge Gerry having died in office during the preceding Congress). | ||||||
1st | long | 4 December 1815 | 30 April 1816 | Gaillard | Clay, H. (returning) | |
13th | 3rd | short | 19 September 1814 | 3 March 1815 | Gaillard, J. (returning) | Cheves |
Senate President pro Tempore John Gaillard served as acting President of the Senate during the "short" session of the 13th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States from 23 November 1814 (Vice President Elbridge Gerry having died in office). | ||||||
2nd | long | 6 December 1813 | 18 April 1814 | Varnum, Joseph B. (Rep.- Massachusetts) | Clay; Cheves, Langdon (Rep.- South Carolina) | |
Speaker Henry Clay resigned from the House of Representatives on 19 January 1814; Congressman Cheves was elected Speaker by the House that same day. | ||||||
1st | Extra | 24 May 1813 | 2 August 1813 | none | Clay | |
No Senate President pro Tempore was elected during this "extra" session, as Vice President Elbridge Gerry presided over the Senate during the entire session. | ||||||
12th | 2nd | short | 2 November 1812 | 3 March 1813 | Crawford | Clay |
Senate President pro Tempore William H. Crawford served as acting President of the Senate throughout the "short" session of the 12th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States (Vice President George Clinton having died during the previous ["long"] session of that Congress). | ||||||
1st | long | 4 November 1811 | 6 July 1812 | Crawford, William H. (Rep.- Georgia) | Clay, Henry (Rep.- Kentucky) | |
Senate President pro Tempore William H. Crawford served as acting President of the Senate during the "long" session of the 12th Congress due to a vacancy in the Vice Presidency of the United States from 20 April 1812 (Vice President George Clinton having died in office). | ||||||
11th | 3rd | short | 3 December 1810 | 3 March 1811 | Pope, John (Rep.- Kentucky) | Varnum |
2nd | long | 27 November 1809 | 1 May 1810 | Gaillard, John (Rep.- South Carolina) | Varnum | |
1st | Extra | 22 May 1809 | 28 June 1809 | Gregg, Andrew (Rep.- Pennsylvania) | Varnum | |
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1809 | 7 March 1809 | none | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President Thomas Jefferson via executive Proclamation issued on 30 December 1808; no President pro Tempore was elected by the Senate, as Vice President George Clinton presided over the entire session. | ||||||
10th | 2nd | short | 7 November 1808 | 3 March 1809 | Bradley, S.R. (returning) Milledge, John (Rep.- Georgia) | Varnum |
Senator Milledge was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate in place of Senator Bradley on 30 January 1809. | ||||||
1st | long | 26 October 1807 | 25 April 1808 | Smith | Varnum, Joseph B. (Rep.- Massachusetts) | |
9th | 2nd | short | 1 December 1806 | 3 March 1807 | Smith | Macon |
1st | long | 2 December 1805 | 21 April 1806 | Smith, Samuel (Rep.- Maryland) | Macon | |
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1805 | same day | none | - - - - | |
8th | 2nd | short | 5 November 1804 | 3 March 1805 | Anderson, Joseph (Rep.- Tennessee) | Macon |
1st | long | 17 October 1803 | 27 March 1804 | Brown, John (Rep.- Kentucky) Franklin, Jesse (Rep.- North Carolina) | Macon | |
Senator Franklin was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate in place of Senator Brown on 10 March 1804. | ||||||
7th | 2nd | short | 6 December 1802 | 3 March 1803 | Bradley, Stephen R. (Rep.- Vermont) | Macon |
1st | long | 7 December 1801 | 3 May 1802 | Baldwin, Abraham (Rep.- Georgia) | Macon, Nathaniel (Rep.- North Carolina) | |
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1801 | 5 March 1801 | none | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President John Adams via executive Proclamation issued on 30 January 1801; no President pro Tempore was elected by the Senate, as Vice President Aaron Burr presided over the two-day session. | ||||||
6th | 2nd | short | 17 November 1800 | 3 March 1801 | Howard, John E. (Fed.- Maryland) Hillhouse, James (Fed.- Connecticut) | Sedgwick |
Senator Hillhouse was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate in place of Senator Howard on 28 February 1801. | ||||||
1st | long | 2 December 1799 | 14 May 1800 | Livermore, S. (Fed.- returning) Tracy, Uriah (Fed.- Connecticut) | Sedgwick, Theodore (Fed.- Massachusetts) | |
Senator Tracy was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate in place of Senator Livermore on 14 May 1800. | ||||||
5th | 3rd | short | 3 December 1798 | 3 March 1799 | Laurence, John (Fed.- New York) Ross, James (Fed.- Pennsylvania) | Dayton |
Senator Ross was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate in place of Senator Laurence on 1 March 1799. | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 17 July 1798 | 19 July 1798 | Sedgwick, Theodore (Fed.- Massachusetts) | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the Senate was called by President John Adams via executive Proclamation issued on 13 July 1798. | ||||||
2nd | long | 13 November 1797 | 16 July 1798 | Read, Jacob (Fed.- South Carolina) | Dayton | |
1st | Extra | 15 May 1797 | 10 July 1797 | Bradford, William (Fed.- Rhode Island) | Dayton | |
This "extra" Session of the 5th Congress was called by President John Adams via executive Proclamation issued on 25 March 1797. | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1797 | same day | none | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President George Washington via executive Proclamation issued on 1 March 1797; no President pro Tempore was elected by the Senate, as Vice President Thomas Jefferson presided over the one-day session. | ||||||
4th | 2nd | short | 5 December 1796 | 3 March 1797 | Bingham, William (Fed.- Pennsylvania) | Dayton (NOW Fed.) |
With the favorable vote re: the funding for implementing Jay's Treaty in the House of Representatives during the previous ("long") session of the 4th Congress (a bill guided through a House controlled by the Opposition by the breaking of two crucial tie votes by Administration Speaker Dayton [it being a tradition that, except under extraordinary circumstances, the Speaker of a legislative chamber- even where a member of that body- does not speak from the Well of the House nor cast a vote: a tradition that Dayton more honored in the breach]), the office of Speaker of the House became politicized and, henceforth, usually would generally reflect the will of the Party which controlled that body. Likewise, the office of Senate President pro Tempore would follow suit during the "short" session of this Congress as the factions of the previous ("long") session of this Congress had already, by this time, become two Major Parties- the Federalists and the Republicans- as a result of the 1796 Presidential Election. From this session on, therefore, the Party affiliation of those who occupy these two Congressional offices is, much more often than not, reflective of which Party controls the given house of Congress. | ||||||
1st | long | 7 December 1795 | 1 June 1796 | Tazewell; Livermore, Samuel (Adm.- New Hampshire) | Dayton, Jonathan (Adm.-New Jersey) | |
Senator Livermore was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate in place of Senator Tazewell on 6 May 1796. | ||||||
Special | SENATE | 8 June 1795 | 26 June 1795 | none | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President George Washington via executive Proclamation issued on 3 March 1795; no President pro Tempore was elected by the Senate, as Vice President John Adams presided over the entire session. | ||||||
3rd | 2nd | short | 3 November 1794 | 3 March 1795 | Tazewell, Henry (Opp.- Virginia) | Muhlenberg |
1st | long | 2 December 1793 | 9 June 1794 | Izard, Ralph (Adm.- South Carolina) | Muhlenberg, F.A.C. (returning) | |
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1793 | same day | none | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President George Washington via executive Proclamation issued on 1 March 1793; no President pro Tempore was elected by the Senate, as Vice President John Adams presided over the one-day session. | ||||||
2nd | 2nd | short | 5 November 1792 | 2 March 1793 | Langdon, J. (returning) | Trumbull |
1st | long | 24 October 1791 | 8 May 1792 | Lee, Richard Henry (Opp.- Virginia) | Trumbull, Jonathan (Adm.- Connecticut) | |
Special | SENATE | 4 March 1791 | same day | none | - - - - | |
This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President George Washington via executive Proclamation issued on 1 March 1791; no President pro Tempore was elected by the Senate, as Vice President John Adams presided over the one-day session. | ||||||
1st | 3rd | short | 6 December 1790 | 3 March 1791 | Langdon | Muhlenberg |
2nd | long | 4 January 1790 | 12 August 1790 | Langdon | Muhlenberg | |
1st | Quorum | 6 April 1789 | 29 September 1789 | Langdon, John (Opp.-New Hampshire) | Muhlenberg, Frederick A.C. (Opp.-Pennsylvania) | |
The offices of Senate President pro Tempore and House Speaker were both considered non-partisan into the 1st ("long") session of the 4th Congress [1795-1797]; thus, the political affiliations of these officers as noted in this table are not in any way indicative of which faction [Administration or Opposition] held political control of either house of Congress during this early period in the history of the U.S. Congress. | ||||||
(sort ↓) Congress | session | type | convened | adjourned | President pro Tempore of the Senate | Speaker of the House of Representatives |
Modified .
. Documentation
- "Regular" Sessions of Congress
- "Regular" Sessions prior to the adoption of the 20th Amendment (1933)
- "Regular" Sessions after the adoption of the 20th Amendment (1933)
- "Extra" Sessions
- "Special SENATE" Sessions
. Related information