Party divisions of United States Congresses

Control of the Congress from 1855 to 2025 Popular vote and house seats won by party

Party divisions of United States Congresses have played a central role on the organization and operations of both chambers of the United States Congress—the Senate and the House of Representatives—since its establishment as the bicameral legislature of the Federal government of the United States in 1789. Political parties had not been anticipated when the U.S. Constitution was drafted in 1787, nor did they exist at the time the first Senate elections and House elections occurred in 1788 and 1789. Organized political parties developed in the U.S. in the 1790s, but political factions—from which organized parties evolved—began to appear almost immediately after the 1st Congress convened. Those who supported the Washington administration were referred to as "pro-administration" and would eventually form the Federalist Party, while those in opposition joined the emerging Democratic-Republican Party.[1]

## Party divisions by Congress

[edit]

The following table lists the party divisions for each United States Congress. Note that numbers in boldface denote the majority party at that particular time while italicized numbers signify a Congress in which the majority party changed intra-term.

Congress | Years  | Senate |  | House of Representatives | President | Trifecta

|
|
|
|
|
|

Total  | Anti-
Admin[2] | Pro-
Admin[3] | Others | Vacancies  | Total  | Anti-
Admin  | Pro-
Admin  | Others  | Vacancies
1st | 1789–1791  | 26  | 8  | 18 | —  | —  | 65  | 28  | 37 | —  | —  | George Washington | Yes[4]
2nd | 1791–1793  | 30  | 13  | 16 | —  | 1  | 69  | 30  | 39 | —  | —  | Yes[4]
3rd | 1793–1795  | 30  | 14  | 16 | —  | —  | 105  | 54 | 51  | —  | —  | No
Congress  | Years  | Total  | Democratic-
Republicans | Federalists | Others  | Vacancies  | Total  | Democratic-
Republicans  | Federalists  | Others  | Vacancies  | President  | Trifecta
4th | 1795–1797  | 32  | 11  | 21 | —  | —  | 106  | 59 | 47  | —  | —  | George Washington[5] | No
5th | 1797–1799  | 32  | 10  | 22 | —  | —  | 106  | 49  | 57 | —  | —  | John Adams | Yes
6th | 1799–1801  | 32  | 10  | 22 | —  | —  | 106  | 46  | 60 | —  | —  | Yes
7th | 1801–1803  | 34[6] | 17 | 15  | —  | 2  | 107  | 68 | 38  | —  | 1  | Thomas Jefferson | No*/Yes[6]
8th | 1803–1805  | 34  | 25 | 9  | —  | —  | 142  | 103 | 39  | —  | —  | Yes
9th | 1805–1807  | 34  | 27 | 7  | —  | —  | 142  | 114 | 28  | —  | —  | Yes
10th | 1807–1809  | 34  | 28 | 6  | —  | —  | 142  | 116 | 26  | —  | —  | Yes
11th | 1809–1811  | 34  | 27 | 7  | —  | —  | 142  | 92 | 50  | —  | —  | James Madison | Yes
12th | 1811–1813  | 36  | 30 | 6  | —  | —  | 143  | 107 | 36  | —  | —  | Yes
13th | 1813–1815  | 36  | 28 | 8  | —  | —  | 182  | 114 | 68  | —  | —  | Yes
14th | 1815–1817  | 38  | 26 | 12  | —  | —  | 183  | 119 | 64  | —  | —  | Yes
15th | 1817–1819  | 42  | 30 | 12  | —  | —  | 185  | 146 | 39  | —  | —  | James Monroe | Yes
16th | 1819–1821  | 46  | 37 | 9  | —  | —  | 186  | 160 | 26  | —  | —  | Yes
17th | 1821–1823  | 48  | 44 | 4  | —  | —  | 187  | 155 | 32  | —  | —  | Yes
18th | 1823–1825  | 48  | 43 | 5  | —  | —  | 213  | 189 | 24  | —  | —  | Yes
Congress  | Years  | Total  | Jacksonian[7] | Anti-Jackson[7] | Others  | Vacancies  | Total  | Jacksonian[7] | Anti-Jackson[7] | Others  | Vacancies  | President  | Trifecta
19th | 1825–1827  | 48  | 26 | 22  | —  | —  | 213  | 104  | 109 | —  | —  | John Quincy Adams[8] | No
20th | 1827–1829  | 48  | 27 | 21  | —  | —  | 213  | 113 | 100  | —  | —  | No
21st | 1829–1831  | 48  | 25 | 23  | —  | —  | 213  | 136 | 72  | 5  | —  | Andrew Jackson | Yes
22nd | 1831–1833  | 48[9] | 24 | 22  | 2  | —  | 213  | 126 | 66  | 21  | —  | Yes[10]
23rd | 1833–1835  | 48  | 20  | 26 | 2  | —  | 240  | 143 | 63  | 34  | —  | No
24th | 1835–1837  | 52 [11] | 26 | 24  | 2  | —  | 242  | 143 | 75  | 24  | —  | No/Yes[12]
Congress  | Years  | Total  | Democrats | Whigs | Others  | Vacancies  | Total  | Democrats  | Whigs  | Others  | Vacancies  | President  | Trifecta
25th | 1837–1839  | 52  | 35 | 17  | —  | —  | 242  | 128 | 100  | 14  | —  | Martin Van Buren | Yes
26th | 1839–1841  | 52  | 30 | 22  | —  | —  | 242  | 125 | 109  | 8  | —  | Yes
27th | 1841–1843  | 52  | 22  | 29 | —  | 1  | 242  | 98  | 142 | 2  | —  | John Tyler[13] | Yes/No[14]
28th | 1843–1845  | 52  | 23  | 29 | —  | —  | 223  | 147 | 72  | 4  | —  | No
29th | 1845–1847  | 58  | 34 | 22  | —  | 2  | 228  | 142 | 79  | 7  | —  | James K. Polk | Yes
30th | 1847–1849  | 60  | 38 | 21  | 1  | —  | 230[15] | 110  | 116 | 4  | —  | No
31st | 1849–1851  | 62  | 35 | 25  | 2  | —  | 233 [16] | 113 | 108  | 11  | 1  | Zachary Taylor[17] | No
32nd | 1851–1853  | 62  | 36 | 23  | 3  | —  | 233  | 127 | 85  | 21  | —  | Millard Fillmore | No
33rd | 1853–1855  | 62  | 38 | 22  | 2  | —  | 234  | 157 | 71  | 6  | —  | Franklin Pierce | Yes
Congress  | Years  | Total  | Democrats  | Opposition[18] | Others  | Vacancies  | Total  | Democrats  | Opposition  | Others  | Vacancies  | President  | Trifecta
34th | 1855–1857  | 62  | 39 | 21  | 2  | —  | 234  | 83  | 100 | 51  | —  | Franklin Pierce | No
Congress  | Years  | Total  | Democrats  | Republicans | Others  | Vacancies  | Total  | Democrats  | Republicans  | Others  | Vacancies  | President  | Trifecta
35th | 1857–1859  | 64  | 39 | 20  | 5  | —  | 237  | 131 | 94  | 13  | —  | James Buchanan | Yes
36th | 1859–1861  | 66  | 38 | 26  | 2  | —  | 237 [19] | 101  | 113 | 23  | —  | No
37th | 1861–1863  | 50  | 11  | 31 | 7  | 1  | 178  | 42  | 106 | 28  | 2  | Abraham Lincoln[20] | Yes
38th | 1863–1865  | 51  | 12  | 29 | —  | —  | 183 [21] | 80  | 103 | —  | —  | Yes [22]
39th | 1865–1867  | 52  | 10  | 42 | —  | —  | 191  | 46  | 145 | —  | —  | Andrew Johnson[23] | Yes/No[24]
40th | 1867–1869  | 53  | 11  | 42 | —  | —  | 193  | 49  | 143 | —  | 1  | No
41st | 1869–1871  | 74  | 11  | 61 | —  | 2  | 243  | 73  | 170 | —  | —  | Ulysses S. Grant | Yes
42nd | 1871–1873  | 74  | 17  | 57 | —  | —  | 243  | 104  | 136 | 3  | —  | Yes
43rd | 1873–1875  | 74  | 19  | 54 | —  | 1  | 293  | 88  | 203 | —  | 2  | Yes
44th | 1875–1877  | 76  | 29  | 46 | —  | 1  | 293  | 181 | 107  | 3  | 2  | No
45th | 1877–1879  | 76[25] | 36  | 39 | 1  | —  | 293  | 156 | 137  | —  | —  | Rutherford B. Hayes | No
46th | 1879–1881  | 76  | 43 | 33  | —  | —  | 293[26] | 150 | 128  | 14  | 1  | No
47th | 1881–1883  | 76[27] | 37  | 37  | 2  | —  | 293[28] | 130  | 152 | 11  | —  | Chester A. Arthur[29] | No
48th | 1883–1885  | 76[30] | 36  | 40 | —  | —  | 325  | 200 | 119  | 6  | —  | No
49th | 1885–1887  | 76[31] | 34  | 41 | —  | 1  | 325  | 182 | 140  | 2  | 1  | Grover Cleveland | No
50th | 1887–1889  | 76[31] | 37  | 39 | —  | —  | 325  | 170 | 151  | 4  | —  | No
51st | 1889–1891  | 84  | 37  | 47 | —  | —  | 330  | 156  | 173 | 1  | —  | Benjamin Harrison | Yes
52nd | 1891–1893  | 88  | 39  | 47 | 2  | —  | 333  | 231 | 88  | 14  | —  | No
53rd | 1893–1895  | 88 [32] | 44 | 38  | 3  | 3  | 356  | 220 | 126  | 10  | —  | Grover Cleveland  | Yes [33]
54th | 1895–1897  | 88 [34] | 39  | 44 | 5  | —  | 357  | 104  | 246 | 7  | —  | No
55th | 1897–1899  | 90[34] | 34  | 46 | 10  | —  | 357  | 134  | 206 | 16  | 1  | William McKinley[35] | Yes[36]
56th | 1899–1901  | 90  | 26  | 53 | 11  | —  | 357  | 163  | 185 | 9  | —  | Yes
57th | 1901–1903  | 90  | 29  | 56 | 3  | 2  | 357  | 153  | 198 | 5  | 1  | Theodore Roosevelt | Yes
58th | 1903–1905  | 90  | 32  | 58 | —  | —  | 386  | 178  | 207 | —  | 1  | Yes
59th | 1905–1907  | 90  | 32  | 58 | —  | —  | 386  | 136  | 250 | —  | —  | Yes
60th | 1907–1909  | 92  | 29  | 61 | —  | 2  | 386  | 164  | 222 | —  | —  | Yes
61st | 1909–1911  | 92  | 32  | 59 | —  | 1  | 391  | 172  | 219 | —  | —  | William H. Taft | Yes
62nd | 1911–1913  | 92  | 42  | 49 | —  | 1  | 391  | 228 | 162  | 1  | —  | No
63rd | 1913–1915  | 96  | 51 | 44  | 1  | —  | 435  | 290 | 127  | 18  | —  | Woodrow Wilson | Yes
64th | 1915–1917  | 96  | 56 | 39  | 1  | —  | 435  | 231 | 193  | 8  | 3  | Yes
65th | 1917–1919  | 96  | 53 | 42  | 1  | —  | 435  | 210 | 216  | 9[37] | —  | Yes[38]
66th | 1919–1921  | 96  | 47  | 49 | —  | —  | 435  | 191  | 237 | 7  | —  | No
67th | 1921–1923  | 96  | 37  | 59 | —  | —  | 435  | 132  | 300 | 1  | 2  | Warren G. Harding[39] | Yes
68th | 1923–1925  | 96  | 43  | 51 | 2  | —  | 435  | 207  | 225 | 3  | —  | Calvin Coolidge | Yes
69th | 1925–1927  | 96  | 40  | 54 | 1  | 1  | 435  | 183  | 247 | 5  | —  | Yes
70th | 1927–1929  | 96[40] | 47  | 48 | 1  | —  | 435  | 195  | 237 | 3  | —  | Yes[41]
71st | 1929–1931  | 96  | 39  | 56 | 1  | —  | 435  | 163  | 267 | 1  | 4  | Herbert Hoover | Yes
72nd | 1931–1933  | 96[42] | 47  | 48 | 1  | —  | 435[43] | 217 | 217  | 1 | —  | No
73rd | 1933–1935  | 96  | 59 | 36  | 1  | —  | 435  | 313 | 117  | 5  | —  | Franklin D. Roosevelt[44] | Yes
74th | 1935–1937  | 96  | 69 | 25  | 2  | —  | 435  | 322 | 103  | 10  | —  | Yes
75th | 1937–1939  | 96  | 76 | 16  | 4  | —  | 435  | 333 | 89  | 13  | —  | Yes
76th | 1939–1941  | 96  | 69 | 23  | 4  | —  | 435  | 261 | 169  | 5  | —  | Yes
77th | 1941–1943  | 96  | 66 | 28  | 2  | —  | 435  | 268 | 162  | 5  | —  | Yes
78th | 1943–1945  | 96  | 57 | 38  | 1  | —  | 435  | 222 | 209  | 4  | —  | Yes
79th | 1945–1947  | 96  | 57 | 38  | 1  | —  | 435  | 243 | 190  | 2  | —  | Harry S. Truman | Yes
80th | 1947–1949  | 96  | 45  | 51 | —  | —  | 435  | 188  | 246 | 1  | —  | No
81st | 1949–1951  | 96  | 54 | 42  | —  | —  | 435  | 262 | 171  | 2  | —  | Yes
82nd | 1951–1953  | 96  | 48 | 47  | 1  | —  | 435  | 235 | 199  | 1  | —  | Yes
83rd | 1953–1955  | 96[45] | 47  | 48 | 1  | —  | 435  | 213  | 221 | 1  | —  | Dwight D. Eisenhower | Yes[46][47]
84th | 1955–1957  | 96 [48] | 48 | 47  | 1  | —  | 435  | 232 | 203  | —  | —  | No
85th | 1957–1959  | 96  | 49 | 47  | —  | —  | 435  | 234 | 201  | —  | —  | No
86th | 1959–1961  | 98  | 64 | 34  | —  | —  | 437  | 284 | 153  | —  | —  | No
87th | 1961–1963  | 100  | 64 | 36  | —  | —  | 437  | 262 | 175  | —  | —  | John F. Kennedy[49] | Yes[50]
88th | 1963–1965  | 100  | 67 | 33  | —  | —  | 435  | 258 | 176  | —  | 1  | Lyndon B. Johnson | Yes
89th | 1965–1967  | 100  | 68 | 32  | —  | —  | 435  | 295 | 140  | —  | —  | Yes
90th | 1967–1969  | 100  | 64 | 36  | —  | —  | 435  | 247 | 187  | —  | 1  | Yes
91st | 1969–1971  | 100  | 58 | 42  | —  | —  | 435  | 243 | 192  | —  | —  | Richard Nixon[51] | No[52]
92nd | 1971–1973  | 100  | 54 | 44  | 2  | —  | 435  | 255 | 180  | —  | —  | No
93rd | 1973–1975  | 100  | 56 | 42  | 2  | —  | 435  | 243 | 192  | —  | —  | Gerald Ford | No
94th | 1975–1977  | 100  | 61 | 37  | 2  | —  | 435  | 291 | 144  | —  | —  | No
95th | 1977–1979  | 100  | 61 | 38  | 1  | —  | 435  | 292 | 143  | —  | —  | Jimmy Carter | Yes[50]
96th | 1979–1981  | 100  | 58 | 41  | 1  | —  | 435  | 277 | 157  | 1[53] | —  | Yes
97th | 1981–1983  | 100  | 46  | 53 | 1  | —  | 435  | 242 | 192  | 1[53] | —  | Ronald Reagan | No
98th | 1983–1985  | 100  | 46/45  | 54/55 | —  | —  | 435  | 269 | 165  | 1[53] | —  | No
99th | 1985–1987  | 100  | 47  | 53 | —  | —  | 435  | 253 | 181  | 1[54] | —  | No
100th | 1987–1989  | 100  | 55 | 45  | —  | —  | 435  | 258 | 177  | —  | —  | No
101st | 1989–1991  | 100  | 55 | 45  | —  | —  | 435  | 260 | 175  | —  | —  | George H. W. Bush | No
102nd | 1991–1993  | 100  | 56 | 44  | —  | —  | 435  | 267 | 167  | 1[55] | —  | No
103rd | 1993–1995  | 100  | 57 | 43  | —  | —  | 435  | 258 | 176  | 1[55] | —  | Bill Clinton | Yes[50]
104th | 1995–1997  | 100  | 47  | 53 | —  | —  | 435  | 204  | 230 | 1[55] | —  | No
105th | 1997–1999  | 100  | 45  | 55 | —  | —  | 435  | 206  | 227 | 2[56] | —  | No
106th | 1999–2001  | 100  | 45  | 55 | —  | —  | 435  | 211  | 223 | 1[55] | —  | No
107th | 2001–2003  | 100  | 50[57] | 50/49[58] | 0/1[59] | —  | 435  | 212  | 221 | 2[60] | —  | George W. Bush | Yes/No[61]
108th | 2003–2005  | 100  | 48  | 51 | 1[59] | —  | 435  | 205  | 229 | 1[55] | —  | Yes
109th | 2005–2007  | 100  | 44  | 55 | 1[59] | —  | 435  | 202  | 232 | 1[55] | —  | Yes
110th | 2007–2009  | 100  | 49 | 49  | 2[62] | —  | 435  | 233 | 202  | —  | —  | No
111th | 2009–2011  | 100  | 56–58[63] | 40–42[64] | 2[62] | —  | 435  | 257 | 178  | —  | —  | Barack Obama | Yes[50]
112th | 2011–2013  | 100  | 51 | 47  | 2[62] | —  | 435  | 193  | 242 | —  | —  | No
113th | 2013–2015  | 100  | 53 | 45  | 2[65] | —  | 435  | 201  | 234 | —  | —  | No
114th | 2015–2017  | 100  | 44  | 54 | 2[65] | —  | 435  | 188  | 247 | —  | —  | No
115th | 2017–2019  | 100  | 46/47  | 50–52 | 2[65] | —  | 435  | 194  | 241 | —  | —  | Donald Trump | Yes[46]
116th | 2019–2021  | 100  | 45/46  | 53/52 | 2[65] | —  | 435  | 235 | 200  | —  | —  | No
117th | 2021–2023  | 100  | 46–48[66] | 51/50[67] | 2/3[68] | —  | 435  | 222 | 213  | —  | —  | Joe Biden | Yes[69]
118th | 2023–2025  | 100  | 47/48 | 49  | 3/4[70] | —  | 435  | 212/213  | 222/220 | —  | 2/1[71][72] | No
119th | 2025–2027  | 100  | 45  | 53/52 | 2[65] | 1[73] | 435  | 215  | 219 | —  | 1[72] | Donald Trump  | Yes[46]
Congress  | Years  | Total  | Democrats  | Republicans  | Others  | Vacancies  | Total  | Democrats  | Republicans  | Others  | Vacancies  | President  | Trifecta
Senate  | House of Representatives

## Partisan control of Congress

[edit]

This table shows the number of Congresses in which a party controlled either the House, the Senate, or the presidency.

Party  | Senate  | House  | Presidency  | Trifecta

|
|
|
|

Democratic | 51  | 59  | 45  | 30
Republican | 43  | 36  | 46  | 22[74]
Democratic-
Republican | 12  | 13  | 14  | 12
Federalist | 3  | 2  | 2  | 2
Pro-
Administration | 3  | 2  | 0  | 2
Whig | 2  | 2  | 2  | 0[75]
National
Republican | 1  | 1  | 0  | 0
Anti-
Administration | 0  | 1  | 0  | 0
Opposition | 0  | 1  | 0  | 0
National
Union | 0  | 0  | 2  | 0
Split control  | 2[76] | 0  | 1[77] | 49
Independent  | 0  | 0  | 5  | \-

## See also

[edit]

* Divided government in the United States
* Political party strength in U.S. states

## References

[edit]

1. ^ U.S. Senate: Party Divisions
2. ^ The Anti-Administration Party was not a formal political party but rather a faction opposed to the policies of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton. The faction eventually coalesced into the Democratic-Republican Party.
3. ^ The Pro-Administration Party was not a formal political party but rather a faction supportive of the policies of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton. The faction eventually coalesced into the Federalist Party.
4. ^ a b Though Washington never formally joined a party, he was broadly sympathetic to what was later called the “Pro-Administration” faction which later became the Federalist Party.
5. ^ Washington disapproved of formal political parties and refused to join either party, though he became a symbol of the Federalist Party.
6. ^ a b When Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson began his Presidency in March 1801 the Senate held a two-day special Senate session with an ongoing Federalist majority (without the Democratic-Republican House in session), which briefly stalled the inauguration of a Democratic-Republican trifecta government, though the session was only called by outgoing President John Adams so that the Senate could provide advice to the new President. By the time the Congress began its first regular session in December 1801 to start official business the Democratic-Republicans had gained the Senate majority and thus, with the House and with President Jefferson, held the full trifecta of government throughout that first session and for the next several years. "Congressional Record, March 1801" (PDF). Congressional Record: 147–151\. March 1801."Explanation of the Types of Sessions of Congress". The Green Papers. June 2001.
7. ^ a b c d The Democratic-Republican Party broke up into two competing parties during the 1820s, but there is no official date of dissolution for the Democratic-Republicans. During the presidency of John Quincy Adams, Congress became divided between a group that favored Adams and a group that favored Andrew Jackson. After Adams left office, Congress was divided into a group that supported the Jackson administration and a group that opposed it. During Jackson's presidency, the pro-Jackson group coalesced into the Democratic Party, while the anti-Jackson group (which included the National Republican Party) joined with the Anti-Masonic Party and other groups to form the Whig Party.
8. ^ Adams won election as a Democratic-Republican, but he sought re-election as a National Republican.
9. ^ Jacksonian control of the Senate was through plurality.
10. ^ Jackson had a trifecta through a Senate that was controlled by plurality.
11. ^ In the first Congressional session the Senate remained under control of “National Republicans” for one year; before the start of the second Congressional session the Senate reverted to Jacksonian control, and Jacksonians kept the Senate for the remainder of the Congressional term.
12. ^ Jackson did not have a trifecta during the first Congressional session when the Senate remained under control of “National Republicans” for one year; Jacksonians flipped the Senate before the second Congressional session and Jackson held a trifecta through that new Senate majority for the remainder of the Congressional term.
13. ^ Whig President William Henry Harrison died April 4, 1841, one month into his term, and was succeeded by John Tyler, who served for the remainder of the term. Tyler had been elected as vice president on the Whig ticket, but he became an independent after the Whigs expelled him from the party on September 13, 1841.
14. ^ Whigs held their only trifecta from March 4, 1841, until later that year when the Whigs expelled Tyler from the party on September 13 and he became an Independent.
15. ^ Whigs controlled the House through a plurality in the 2nd half of the 1st Congressional session; for the remainder of the two sessions the Whigs controlled the House through a majority.
16. ^ The Democrats held the House through a plurality.
17. ^ President Taylor died July 9, 1850, about one year and four months into the term, and was succeeded by Millard Fillmore, who served for the remainder of the term.
18. ^ The "Opposition Party" was the congressional coalition formed by former Whigs and members of the nascent Republican Party. The Opposition Party opposed the Democratic Party in the aftermath of the collapse of the Whig Party.
19. ^ The Republicans controlled the House through a coalition with other Opposition parties.
20. ^ President Lincoln was assassinated and died April 15, 1865, about a month after beginning his second term as president. He was succeeded by Democrat Andrew Johnson, who served the remainder of the term.
21. ^ The Republicans controlled the House through a coalition with Unconditional Unionists.
22. ^ The Republicans held a trifecta by controlling the House through a coalition with Unconditional Unionists.
23. ^ Johnson was elected as vice president on the National Union ticket, but was a Democrat prior to the 1864 election.
24. ^ Republicans held a trifecta until Lincoln's assassination on April 15, 1685, after which the former War Democrat Andrew Johnson became President.
25. ^ Republicans controlled the Senate through the tie-breaking VP.
26. ^ Democrats controlled the House through a coalition with Independent Democrats.
27. ^ When the Congressional term began with a special Senate session starting March 1881, the Republicans held the Senate (and a trifecta) through the tie-breaking Vice President Arthur and through a caucus that included a Readjuster Senator. When both Republican New York senators resigned on May 16 of that year, the Republicans lost control of the Senate and lost their trifecta, and the Senate ended their special session. By the time the Senate reconvened for a second special Senate session in October 1881 with two new Republican New York senators, Vice President Arthur had succeeded to the Presidency and the Senate deadlocked in what is known as the "Great Senate Deadlock of 1881”. For the rest of the special session and for the remaining two regular Congressional sessions, the Senate decided to give Republicans the role of controlling the all-too important Senate committees, give the Democrat-caucusing Independent the mostly ceremonial role of president pro tempore, and leave the patronage appointments and other Senate office appointments to the Democrats. "The Great Senate Deadlock of 1881". Senate.gov. US Senate. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
28. ^ Republicans controlled the House through a plurality that eventually became a majority in the middle of the first Congressional session.
29. ^ James A. Garfield died September 23, 1881, roughly six months into his term. He was succeeded by Chester Arthur, who served for the remainder of the term.
30. ^ Republicans controlled the Senate through a caucus with Readjusters.
31. ^ a b Republicans controlled the Senate through a continued caucus with Readjusters.
32. ^ Democrats controlled the Senate through a plurality.
33. ^ Democrats held a trifecta by controlling the Senate through a plurality.
34. ^ a b Republicans controlled the Senate through a plurality.
35. ^ McKinley died September 14, 1901, about six months into his second term, and was succeeded by Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt served for the remainder of the term and was elected president in 1904.
36. ^ Republicans held a trifecta by controlling the Senate through a plurality.
37. ^ The Democratic Party controlled the House in coalition with the Progressive Party and the Socialist Party. The lone congressional member of the Prohibition Party was not a part of this coalition.
38. ^ Democrats held a trifecta through a coalition-led House majority with Progressive members and a Socialist member.
39. ^ President Harding died August 2, 1923, about two years and five months after becoming president, and was succeeded by vice-president Calvin Coolidge. Coolidge served for the remainder of the term and was subsequently elected president in 1924.
40. ^ At the end of the first month of the first session of Congress, Republicans gained control of the Senate through a VP-tie-breaking majority.
41. ^ Republicans controlled a trifecta through a VP-tie-breaking majority in the Senate that began at the end of the first month of the first session of Congress.
42. ^ Republicans controlled the Senate through a VP-tie-breaking majority.
43. ^ Before Congress’ first session, Democrats gained the House majority, and they held that majority for the entire remainder of the Congressional term.
44. ^ Roosevelt died April 12, 1945, about three months into his fourth term as president, and was succeeded by Harry S. Truman. Truman served the remainder of the term and was elected president in 1948.
45. ^ Republicans controlled the Senate for the first Congressional session through a VP-tie-breaking majority (1953), then controlled the Senate for the second congressional session through a VP-tie-breaking majority that included a caucus with an Independent (1954).
46. ^ a b c According to the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the new session of Congress begins on the 3rd of January, while the new presidency begins on the 20th of January. For the first seventeen days of this Congress, both the House of Representatives and the Senate were held by Republican Party, while the outgoing President was of the Democratic Party. After these seventeen days, the Republican Party had a trifecta.
47. ^ Republicans held a trifecta by controlling the Senate for the first Congressional session through a VP-tie-breaking majority (1953), then controlling the Senate for the second Congressional session through a VP-tie-breaking majority that included a caucus with an Independent (1954).
48. ^ Democrats controlled the Senate for one year through a caucus with an independent, before the independent joined the Democratic Party (1955).
49. ^ Kennedy died November 22, 1963, about two years and ten months into the term, and was succeeded by Lyndon B. Johnson. Johnson served the remainder of the term and was elected president in 1964.
50. ^ a b c d According to the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the new session of Congress begins on the 3rd of January, while the new presidency begins on the 20th of January. For the first seventeen days of this Congress, both the House of Representatives and the Senate were held by the Democratic Party, while the outgoing President was of the Republican Party. After these seventeen days, the Democratic Party had a trifecta.
51. ^ Nixon resigned August 9, 1974, about a year and seven months into his second term as president, and was succeeded by Gerald R. Ford, who served for the remainder of the term.
52. ^ According to the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the new session of Congress begins on the 3rd of January, while the new presidency begins on the 20th of January. For the first seventeen days of this Congress, the Democratic Party had a trifecta. After these seventeen days, both the House of Representatives and the Senate were held by the Democratic Party, while the President Nixon was of the Republican Party.
53. ^ a b c In the 96th, 97th, and 98th Congresses, the only Conservative member of the House, William Carney of New York, caucused with the Republican Party.
54. ^ Carney was elected as a Conservative but caucused with Republicans until October 1985, when he joined the Republican Party.
55. ^ a b c d e f In the 102nd through 109th Congresses, Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont's at-large congressional district caucused with the Democratic Party.
56. ^ In the 102nd through 109th Congresses, Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont caucused with the Democratic Party. Independent Jo Ann Emerson switched to the Republican party on January 8, 1997.
57. ^ The Democratic Party controlled the Senate in the 107th Congress from January 3 to January 20, 2001 (50-50 tie with Democratic Vice President Al Gore as the deciding vote) and from May 24, 2001, to January 3, 2003 (after Senator Jim Jeffords left the Republican Party to become an Independent and caucus with the Democrats).
58. ^ The Republican Party controlled the Senate in the 107th Congress from January 20, 2001 (50-50 tie with Republican Vice President Dick Cheney as the deciding vote) until May 24, 2001, when Senator Jim Jeffords left the Republican Party to become an Independent and caucus with the Democrats.
59. ^ a b c In the 107th Congress (after May 24, 2001), and in the 108th Congress and 109th Congress, Independent Jim Jeffords of Vermont caucused with the Democratic Party.
60. ^ In the 102nd through 109th Congresses, Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont caucused with the Democratic Party. Independent Virgil Goode switched to the Republican party on August 1, 2002.
61. ^ Republicans only held a trifecta from January 20 until May 24, 2001, when Senator Jim Jeffords left the Republican Party to become an Independent and caucus with the Democrats.
62. ^ a b c Two independent members of the Senate caucused with the Democratic Party, and thus are considered to be a part of the Senate Democratic Caucus. In the 110th, 111th, and 112th Congresses, it was Joseph Lieberman and Bernie Sanders.
63. ^ From January 27 to April 28, 2009, when Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania) joined the Democratic caucus, there were 56 Democratic senators, 41 Republicans, two independents, and one undecided seat in Minnesota. That vacancy was filled as an additional Democratic seat on July 7, 2009, with the swearing-in of Al Franken, bringing the totals to 58 Democrats, 40 Republicans, and 2 independents. Seven weeks later, on August 25, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) died, lowering the Democratic total to 57 for a month until Paul G. Kirk Jr. (D) was appointed and sworn in as Senator Kennedy's interim replacement on September 25, 2009. Just over four months later, on February 4, 2010, Scott Brown (R) who had won a special election for the seat, succeeded Paul Kirk, returning the Republican caucus to 41, and again reducing the Democratic caucus to 57 plus two independents. [The Democratic caucus dropped again briefly to 56 in the 18 days between the death of Sen. Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia) on June 28, 2010, and the seating of his interim successor, Carte Goodwin (also D) on July 16.] The appointed Democratic senator from Illinois, Roland Burris was succeeded on November 29, 2010, by Mark Kirk, a Republican elected earlier that month, once again dropping the Democratic caucus to 56 with 2 independents facing 42 Republicans for the last month of the 111th Congress. December 2011 Congressional Directory, page 324
64. ^ From January 3 to April 28, 2009, prior to Senator Arlen Specter's switch to the Democratic Party, there were 41 Republican senators. The Republican caucus returned to 41 on February 4, 2010, with the swearing in of Scott Brown (R-Mass.) to fill the Democratic seat of Edward Kennedy and Paul Kirk. After Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) replaced Roland Burris as senator from Illinois on November 29, 2010, the Senate in the last month of the 111th Congress stood at 42 Republicans, 56 Democrats, and 2 independents.
65. ^ a b c d e Two independent members of the Senate caucused with the Democratic Party, and thus are considered to be a part of the Senate Democratic Caucus. In the 113th, 114th, 115th, 116th, 117th, and 119th Congresses, it was Angus King and Bernie Sanders.
66. ^ The Democratic Party took control of the Senate in the 117th Congress with the swearing in of Democratic senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff on January 20, 2021. With the two Independent senators (Bernie Sanders and Angus King) caucusing with the Democrats to create a 50-50 tie, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris became the deciding vote to give Democrats the majority.
67. ^ The Republican Party controlled the Senate in the 117th Congress from January 3 to January 20, 2021.
68. ^ In the 117th Congress, Angus King and Bernie Sanders continued to serve as Independent Democrats, and Democratic senator Kyrsten Sinema switched to join them on December 9th, 2022.
69. ^ Due to Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock (who defeated Republicans David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in the Georgia special elections and their runoffs) not being inaugurated until January 20 (the same day which Joe Biden was inaugurated President), the Republicans held the Presidency and the Senate until Biden, Ossoff, and Warnock were all sworn in, at which time the Democratic Party obtained a trifecta.
70. ^ In the 118th Congress, Angus King, Bernie Sanders, and Kyrsten Sinema continued to serve as Independent Democrats, and Democratic senator Joe Manchin switched to join them on May 31, 2024.
71. ^ During the 118th Congress, George Santos (R-NY3) was expelled by a vote of 311 to 114 on the first of December, 2023.
72. ^ a b Elizabeth Elkind, Julia Johnson (November 13, 2024). "Matt Gaetz resigns from Congress over Trump nod to be attorney general, Johnson says". Fox News. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
73. ^ "Vance resigns his Senate seat as inauguration with Trump approaches". NBC News. January 10, 2025. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
74. ^ The beginning of Lincoln's second term and of George W. Bush's first term began with a trifecta for the Republican Party but ended very shortly after beginning.
75. ^ The beginning of William Harrison's term began as a trifecta for the Whigs. It continued after Harrison's death when Tyler became President, but ended shortly after once the Whig Party expelled Tyler into becoming an independent.
76. ^ The Democrats and Republicans shared control of the Senate in the 47th United States Congress. In the middle of the 107th United States Congress, control of the Senate switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party.
77. ^ During the 27th Congress, the Whigs expelled the sitting president, John Tyler, from their party. Tyler governed as an independent.

## External links

[edit]

* U.S. Senate: Party Divisions
* Office of the House Clerk: Party Divisions of the House of Representatives

* v
* t
* e

United States Congress

* House of Representatives
* Senate
* Joint session
* (118th → 119th → 120th)
* Lists of United States Congress

Members and leaders

| Membership|

| Members|

* By length of service
* By shortness of service
* Youngest members
* Non-voting members
* Unseated members

|

Senate|

* Members
* seniority
* Dean
* Former
* Expelled or censured
* Classes
* Born outside the U.S.
* Resigned
* Appointed
* Switched parties

House|

* Members
* seniority
* Dean
* Former
* Expelled, censured, and reprimanded
* Served a single term
* Lost re-election in a primary
* Switched parties
* Elected but did not serve

New members|

* 90th (1967)
* 91st (1969)
* 92nd (1971)
* 93rd (1973)
* 94th (1975)
* 95th (1977)
* 96th (1979)
* 97th (1981)
* 98th (1983)
* 99th (1985)
* 100th (1987)
* 101st (1989)
* 102nd (1991)
* 103rd (1993)
* 104th (1995)
* 105th (1997)
* 106th (1999)
* 107th (2001)
* 108th (2003)
* 109th (2005)
* 110th (2007)
* 111th (2009)
* 112th (2011)
* 113th (2013)
* 114th (2015)
* 115th (2017)
* 116th (2019)
* 117th (2021)
* 118th (2023)
* 119th (2025)

Leaders|

| Senate|

* President
* list
* President pro tempore
* list
* Leaders
* Democratic Caucus
* Chair
* Secretary
* Policy Committee Chair
* Republican Conference
* Chair
* Vice-Chair
* Policy Committee Chair

|

House|

* Speaker
* list
* Leaders
* Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group
* Democratic Caucus
* Republican Conference

Districts|

* List
* Apportionment
* Gerrymandering

Groups|

| Congressional caucus|

* Caucuses of the United States Congress

|

Ethnic and racial|

* African-American members
* Senate
* House
* Black Caucus
* Arab and Middle Eastern members
* Asian Pacific American members
* Asian Pacific American Caucus
* Hispanic and Latino members
* list
* Hispanic Caucus
* Hispanic Conference
* Jewish members
* Jewish Caucus
* Native American members

Gender and sexual identity|

* LGBT members
* Equality Caucus
* Women
* Senate
* House
* Issues Caucus
* current House

Occupation|

* Physicians

Religion|

* Buddhist members
* Hindu members
* Jewish members
* Mormon (LDS) members
* Muslim members
* Quaker members
* Sikh members

Related|

* By length of service historically
* Current members by wealth
* From multiple states
* Died in office
* 1790–1899
* 1900–1949
* 1950–1999
* 2000–present
* Killed or wounded in office
* Party switchers
* Slave owners

Powers, privileges, procedure, committees, history, media

| Powers|

* Article I
* Copyright
* Commerce (Dormant)
* Contempt of Congress
* Declaration of war
* Impeachment
* Inquiries
* Trial
* Naturalization
* "Necessary and Proper"
* Power of enforcement
* Taxing/spending

|

Privileges|

* Salaries
* Franking
* Immunity

Procedure|

* Act of Congress
* list
* Appropriation bill
* Bill
* Budget process
* Censure
* Closed sessions
* House
* Senate
* Cloture
* Concurrent resolution
* Continuing resolution
* Dear Colleague letter
* Discharge petition
* Enrolled bill
* Expulsion
* Joint resolution
* Joint session
* list
* Lame-duck session
* Magic minute
* Majority of the majority (Hastert Rule)
* Multiple referral
* House procedures
* Quorum call
* Reconciliation
* Rider
* Saxbe fix
* Sponsorship
* Suspension of the rules
* Unanimous consent
* Veto
* Line-item veto
* Pocket veto

Senate-specific|

* Advice and consent
* Blue slip (U.S. Senate)
* Classes
* Executive communication
* Executive session
* Filibuster
* Jefferson's Manual
* Senate Journal
* Morning business
* Nuclear option
* Presiding Officer
* Recess appointment
* Reconciliation
* Riddick's Senate Procedure
* Senate hold
* Senatorial courtesy
* Seniority
* Standing Rules
* Tie-breaking votes
* Traditions
* Treaty Clause

Committees|

* Chairman and ranking member
* Of the Whole
* Conference
* Discharge petition
* Hearings
* Markup
* Oversight
* List (Joint)
* List (House)
* List (Senate)
* Select and special
* Standing
* Subcommittees

Items|

* Gavels
* Mace of the House
* Seal of the Senate

History|

* House history
* memoirs
* speaker elections
* Senate history
* election disputes
* memoirs
* Continental Congress
* Federal Hall (1789–1790)
* Congress Hall (1790–1800)
* Old Brick Capitol (1815–1819)
* Biographical Directory
* Divided government
* Party divisions

Media|

* C-SPAN
* Congressional Quarterly
* The Hill
* Politico
* Roll Call

Capitol Complex (Capitol Hill)

| Legislative
offices|

* Congressional staff
* Gov. Accountability Office (GAO)
* Comptroller General
* Architect of the Capitol
* Cap. Police
* Board
* Cap. Guide Service
* Congr. Budget Office (CBO)
* Congr. Workplace Rights (OCWR)
* Library of Congress
* Gov. Publishing Office (GPO)
* Technology Assessment

|

Offices|

| Senate|

* Curator
* Historical
* Library

|

House|

* Congr. Ethics
* Emergency Planning, Preparedness, and Operations
* Interparliamentary Affairs
* Law Revision Counsel
* Legislative Counsel
* Library

Employees|

| Senate|

* Secretary
* Chaplain
* Curator
* Historian
* Librarian
* Pages
* Parliamentarian
* Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper

|

House|

* Chaplain
* Chief Administrative Officer
* Clerk
* Doorkeeper
* Floor Operations
* Floor Services Chief
* Historian
* Pages
* Board
* Parliamentarian
* Postmaster
* Reading Clerk
* Sergeant at Arms

Library of
Congress|

* Congressional Research Service
* reports
* Copyright Office
* Register of Copyrights
* Law Library
* Poet Laureate
* THOMAS
* Adams Building
* Jefferson Building
* Madison Building

Gov.
Publishing Office|

* Public Printer
* Congressional Pictorial Directory
* Congressional Record
* Official Congressional Directory
* U.S. Gov. Manual
* Serial Set
* Statutes at Large
* United States Code

Capitol Building|

* List of artwork at the United States Capitol complex
* List of portraits in the United States House of Representatives collection (A-J)
* Brumidi Corridors
* Congressional Prayer Room
* Crypt
* Dome
* Statue of Freedom
* Rotunda
* Hall of Columns
* Statuary Hall
* Visitor Center
* The Apotheosis of Washington
* Statue of Freedom
* Declaration of Independence painting
* Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States
* Apotheosis of Democracy
* Progress of Civilization Pediment
* First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln
* Surrender of General Burgoyne
* Surrender of Lord Cornwallis
* George Washington and the Revolutionary War Door
* Revolutionary War Door
* Columbus Doors
* Washington at Princeton
* Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way
* VP's Room
* VP Bust Collection

Office
buildings|

| Senate|

* Dirksen
* Hart
* Mountains and Clouds
* Russell

|

House|

* Building Commission
* office lottery
* Cannon
* Ford
* Longworth
* O'Neill
* Rayburn

Other
facilities|

* Botanic Garden
* Health and Fitness Facility
* House Recording Studio
* Senate chamber
* Old Senate Chamber
* Old Supreme Court Chamber
* Power Plant
* Webster Page Residence
* Subway

Related|

* Capitol Hill
* United States Capitol cornerstone laying

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template