The Green Papers
The Green Papers
Sessions of the Congress of the United States

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Congress
session type convened adjourned President pro Tempore
of the Senate
Speaker of the House
of Representatives
117th1stodd3 January 2021 GrassleyPelosi
116th2ndeven3 January 2020 GrassleyPelosi
1stodd3 January 2019 Grassley, Charles E. "Chuck"
(Rep.-Iowa)
Pelosi, Nancy
(Dem.-California)
115th2ndeven (ld)3 January 20183 January 2019HatchRyan
1stodd3 January 20173 January 2018HatchRyan
114th2ndeven (ld)4 January 20162 January 2017HatchRyan
1stodd6 January 201518 December 2015Hatch, 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.

113th2ndeven (ld)6 January 201416 December 2014LeahyBoehner
1stodd3 January 201326 December 2013LeahyBoehner
112th2ndeven(ld)3 January 20122 January 2013Inouye;
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.

1stodd5 January 201130 December 2011InouyeBoehner, 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.

111th2deven(ld)5 January 201022 December 2010Byrd;
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.

1stodd6 January 200924 December 2009ByrdPelosi
110th2ndeven(ld)15 January 20082 January 2009ByrdPelosi
1stodd4 January 200719 December 2007Byrd
(returning)
Pelosi, Nancy
(Dem.-California)
109th2ndeven(ld)3 January 20068 December 2006StevensHastert
1stodd4 January 200522 December 2005StevensHastert
108th2ndeven(ld)20 January 200420 December 2004StevensHastert
1stodd7 January 20038 December 2003Stevens, Ted
(Rep.-Alaska)
Hastert
107th2ndeven(ld)23 January 200222 November 2002ByrdHastert
1stodd3 January 200120 December 2001Byrd
(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.

106th2ndeven(ld)24 January 200015 December 2000ThurmondHastert
1stodd6 January 199922 November 1999ThurmondHastert, Dennis
(Rep.- Illinois)
105th2ndeven(ld)27 January 199819 December 1998ThurmondGingrich
1stodd7 January 199713 November 1997ThurmondGingrich
104th2ndeven3 January 19964 October 1996ThurmondGingrich
1stodd4 January 19952 January 1996Thurmond
(returning)
Gingrich, Newt
(Rep.- Georgia)
103rd2ndeven(ld)25 January 19941 December 1994ByrdFoley
1stodd5 January 199326 November 1993ByrdFoley
102nd2ndeven3 January 19929 October 1992ByrdFoley
1stodd3 January 19912 January 1992ByrdFoley
101st2ndeven23 January 199028 October 1990ByrdFoley
1stodd3 January 198922 November 1989Byrd, 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.

100th2ndeven25 January 198822 October 1988StennisWright
1stodd6 January 198722 December 1987Stennis, John C.
(Dem.- Mississippi)
Wright, James C.
(Dem.- Texas)
99th2ndeven21 January 198618 October 1986ThurmondO'Neill
1stodd3 January 198520 December 1985ThurmondO'Neill
98th2ndeven23 January 198412 October 1984ThurmondO'Neill
1stodd3 January 198318 November 1983ThurmondO'Neill
97th2ndeven(ld)25 January 198223 December 1982ThurmondO'Neill
1stodd5 January 198116 December 1981Thurmond, Strom
(Rep.-South Carolina)
O'Neill
96th2ndeven3 January 198015 October 1980MagnusonO'Neill
1stodd15 January 19792 January 1980Magnuson, Warren G.
(Dem.- Washington)
O'Neill
95th2ndeven19 January 197815 October 1978EastlandO'Neill
1stodd4 January 197715 December 1977EastlandO'Neill, Thomas P. "Tip"
(Dem.- Massachusetts)
94th2ndeven19 January 19761 October 1976EastlandAlbert
1stodd14 January 197519 December 1975EastlandAlbert
93rd2ndeven(ld)21 January 197420 December 1974EastlandAlbert

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.

1stodd3 January 197322 December 1973EastlandAlbert

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.

92nd2ndeven18 January 197218 October 1972Ellender ;
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).

1stodd21 January 197117 December 1971Ellender, 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.

91st2ndeven(ld)19 January 19702 January 1971RussellMcCormack
1stodd3 January 196923 December 1969Russell, Richard B.
(Dem.- Georgia)
McCormack
90th2ndeven15 January 196814 October 1968HaydenMcCormack
1stodd10 January 196715 December 1967HaydenMcCormack
89th2ndeven10 January 196622 October 1966HaydenMcCormack
1stodd4 January 196523 October 1965HaydenMcCormack

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.

88th2ndeven7 January 19643 October 1964HaydenMcCormack

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.

1stodd9 January 196330 December 1963HaydenMcCormack

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.

87th2ndeven10 January 196213 October 1962HaydenMcCormack, 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.

1stodd3 January 196127 September 1961HaydenRayburn
86th2ndeven6 January 19601 September 1960HaydenRayburn
1stodd7 January 195915 September 1959HaydenRayburn
85th2ndeven7 January 195824 August 1958HaydenRayburn
1stodd3 January 195730 August 1957Hayden, Carl
(Dem.- Arizona)
Rayburn
84th2ndeven3 January 195627 July 1956GeorgeRayburn
1stodd5 January 19552 August 1955George, Walter F.
(Dem.- Georgia)
Rayburn
(returning)
83rd2ndeven(ld)6 January 19542 December 1954BridgesMartin
1stodd3 January 19533 August 1953Bridges, H. Styles
(Rep.- New Hampshire)
Martin
(returning)
82nd2ndeven8 January 19527 July 1952McKellarRayburn
1stodd3 January 195120 October 1951McKellarRayburn
81st2ndeven(ld)3 January 19502 January 1951McKellarRayburn
1stodd3 January 194919 October 1949McKellar
(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.

80th2ndeven(ld)6 January 194831 December 1948VandenbergMartin

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.

1stodd3 January 194719 December 1947Vandenberg, 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).

79th2ndeven14 January 19462 August 1946McKellarRayburn

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).

1stodd3 January 194521 December 1945McKellar, 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).

78th2ndeven(ld)10 January 194419 December 1944GlassRayburn
1stodd6 January 194321 December 1943GlassRayburn
77th2ndeven(ld)5 January 194216 December 1942GlassRayburn
1stodd3 January 19412 January 1942Harrison, 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.

76th3rdeven(ld)3 January 19402 January 1941Pittman;
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).

2ndExtra21 September 19393 November 1939PittmanBankhead

This "extra" Session of the 76th Congress was called by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt via executive Proclamation issued on 13 September 1939.

1stodd3 January 19395 August 1939PittmanBankhead
75th3rdeven3 January 193816 June 1938PittmanBankhead
2ndExtra15 November 193721 December 1937PittmanBankhead

This "extra" Session of the 75th Congress was called by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt via executive Proclamation issued on 12 October 1937.

1stodd5 January 193721 August 1937PittmanBankhead
74th2ndeven3 January 193620 June 1936PittmanByrns;
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.

1stodd3 January 193526 August 1935PittmanByrns, Joseph W.
(Dem.- Tennessee)
73rd2ndeven3 January 193418 June 1934PittmanRainey

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.

1stExtra/odd9 March 193315 June 1933Pittman, 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).

SpecialSENATE4 March 19336 March 1933none- - - -
72nd2ndshort5 December 19323 March 1933MosesGarner
1stlong7 December 193116 July 1932MosesGarner, John Nance
(Dem.- Texas)
71st3rdshort1 December 19303 March 1931MosesLongworth
SpecialSENATE7 July 193021 July 1930Moses- - - -
2ndlong2 December 19293 July 1930MosesLongworth
1stExtra15 April 192922 November 1929MosesLongworth
SpecialSENATE4 March 19295 March 1929Moses- - - -
70th2ndshort3 December 19283 March 1929MosesLongworth
1stlong5 December 192729 May 1928MosesLongworth
69th2ndshort6 December 19263 March 1927MosesLongworth
ImpeachmentSENATE10 November 1926same dayMoses- - - -

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.

1stlong7 December 19253 July 1926MosesLongworth, Nicholas
(Rep.- Ohio)
SpecialSENATE4 March 192518 March 1925Moses, 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.

68th2ndshort1 December 19243 March 1925CumminsGillett

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).

1stlong3 December 19237 June 1924CumminsGillett
67th4thshort4 December 19223 March 1923CumminsGillett
3rdExtra20 November 19222 December 1922CumminsGillett

This "extra" Session of the 67th Congress was called by President Warren G. Harding via executive Proclamation issued on 9 November 1922.

2ndlong5 December 192122 September 1922CumminsGillett
1stExtra11 April 192123 November 1921CumminsGillett

This "extra" Session of the 67th Congress was called by President Warren G. Harding via executive Proclamation issued on 22 March 1921.

SpecialSENATE4 March 192115 March 1921Cummins- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President Woodrow Wilson via executive Proclamation issued on 3 February 1921.

66th3rdshort6 December 19203 March 1921CumminsGillett
2ndlong1 December 19195 June 1920CumminsGillett
1stExtra19 May 191919 November 1919Cummins, 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.

65th3rdshort2 December 19183 March 1919SaulsburyClark
2ndlong3 December 191721 November 1918SaulsburyClark
1stExtra2 April 19176 October 1917SaulsburyClark
SpecialSENATE5 March 191716 March 1917Saulsbury- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Woodrow Wilson via executive Proclamation issued on 23 February 1917.

64th2ndshort4 December 19163 March 1917Saulsbury, Willard
(Dem.- Delaware)
Clark
1stlong6 December 19158 September 1916ClarkeClark
63rd3rdshort7 December 19143 March 1915ClarkeClark
2ndlong1 December 191324 October 1914ClarkeClark
1stExtra7 April 191330 November 1913ClarkeClark
SpecialSENATE4 March 191317 March 1913Clarke, James P.
(Dem.- Arkansas)
- - - -
62nd3rdshort2 December 19123 March 1913Bacon & GallingerClark

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).

2ndlong4 December 191126 August 1912Bacon, 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).

1stExtra4 April 191122 August 1911FryeClark, 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.

61st3rdshort5 December 19103 March 1911FryeCannon
2ndlong6 December 190925 June 1910FryeCannon
1stExtra15 March 19095 August 1909FryeCannon
SpecialSENATE4 March 19096 March 1909Frye- - - -
60th2ndshort7 December 19083 March 1909FryeCannon
1stlong2 December 190730 May 1908FryeCannon
59th2ndshort3 December 19063 March 1907FryeCannon
1stlong4 December 190530 June 1906FryeCannon
SpecialSENATE4 March 190518 March 1905Frye- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Theodore Roosevelt via executive Proclamation issued on 23 February 1905.

58th3rdshort5 December 19043 March 1905FryeCannon

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).

2ndlong7 December 190328 April 1904FryeCannon
1stExtra9 November 19036 December 1903FryeCannon, 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.

SpecialSENATE5 March 190319 March 1903Frye- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Theodore Roosevelt via executive Proclamation issued on 2 March 1903.

57th2ndshort1 December 19023 March 1903FryeHenderson

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).

1stlong2 December 19011 July 1902FryeHenderson

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).

SpecialSENATE4 March 19019 March 1901Frye- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President William McKinley via executive Proclamation issued on 23 February 1901.

56th2ndshort3 December 19003 March 1901FryeHenderson

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).

1stlong4 December 18997 June 1900FryeHenderson, 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).

55th3rdshort5 December 18983 March 1899FryeReed
2ndlong6 December 18978 July 1898FryeReed
1stExtra15 March 189724 July 1897FryeReed
SpecialSENATE4 March 189710 March 1897Frye- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President Grover Cleveland via executive Proclamation issued on 24 February 1897.

54th2ndshort7 December 18963 March 1897FryeReed
1stlong2 December 189511 June 1896Frye, William P.
(Rep.- Maine)
Reed, T.B.
(returning)
53rd3rdshort3 December 18943 March 1895Ransom, 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.

2ndlong4 December 189328 August 1894HarrisCrisp
1stExtra7 August 18933 November 1893HarrisCrisp

This "extra" Session of the 53rd Congress was called by President Grover Cleveland via executive Proclamation issued on 30 June 1893.

SpecialSENATE4 March 189315 April 1893Harris, 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.

52nd2ndshort5 December 18923 March 1893MandersonCrisp
1stlong7 December 18915 August 1892Manderson, Charles F.
(Rep.- Nebraska)
Crisp, Charles F.
(Dem.- Georgia)
51st2ndshort1 December 18902 March 1891IngallsReed
1stlong2 December 18891 October 1890IngallsReed, Thomas B.
(Rep.- Maine)
SpecialSENATE4 March 18892 April 1889Ingalls- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President Grover Cleveland via executive Proclamation issued on 26 February 1889.

50th2ndshort3 December 18883 March 1889IngallsCarlisle

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).

1stlong5 December 188720 October 1888IngallsCarlisle
49th2ndshort6 December 18863 March 1887Sherman;
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).

1stlong7 December 18855 August 1886Sherman, 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).

SpecialSENATE4 March 18852 April 1885none- - - -

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.

48th2ndshort1 December 18843 March 1885EdmundsCarlisle

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).

1stlong3 December 18837 July 1884Edmunds, George F.
(Rep.- Vermont)
Carlisle, John G.
(Dem.- Kentucky)
47th2ndshort4 December 18823 March 1883DavisKeifer

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).

1stlong5 December 18818 August 1882DavisKeifer, 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).

SpecialSENATE10 October 188129 October 1881Davis, 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).

SpecialSENATE4 March 188120 May 1881Bayard, 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.

46th3rdshort6 December 18803 March 1881ThurmanRandall
2ndlong1 December 187916 June 1880ThurmanRandall
1stExtra18 March 18791 July 1879Thurman, 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.

45th3rdshort2 December 18783 March 1879FerryRandall
2ndlong3 December 187720 June 1878FerryRandall
1stExtra15 October 18772 December 1877FerryRandall

This "extra" Session of the 45th Congress was called by President Rutherford B. Hayes via executive Proclamation issued on 5 May 1877.

SpecialSENATE5 March 187717 March 1877Ferry- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President Ulysses S. Grant via executive Proclamation issued on 2 March 1877.

44th2ndshort4 December 18763 March 1877FerryRandall, 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).

1stlong6 December 187515 August 1876FerryKerr, 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).

SpecialSENATE5 March 187524 March 1875Ferry, 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.

43rd2ndshort7 December 18743 March 1875Carpenter;
Anthony
(returning)
Blaine

Senator Anthony was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate in place of Senator Carpenter on 25 January 1875.

1stlong1 December 187323 June 1874CarpenterBlaine

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.

SpecialSENATE4 March 187326 March 1873Carpenter, 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.

42nd3rdshort2 December 18723 March 1873AnthonyBlaine
2ndlong4 December 187110 June 1872AnthonyBlaine
SpecialSENATE10 May 187127 May 1871Anthony- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Ulysses S. Grant via executive Proclamation issued on 20 April 1871.

1stExtra4 March 187120 April 1871AnthonyBlaine

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.

41st3rdshort5 December 18703 March 1871AnthonyBlaine
2ndlong6 December 186915 July 1870AnthonyBlaine
SpecialSENATE12 April 186922 April 1869Anthony- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Ulysses S. Grant via executive Proclamation issued on 8 April 1869.

1stExtra4 March 186910 April 1869Anthony, 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.

40th3rdshort7 December 18683 March 1869WadeColfax

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).

2ndlong2 December 186710 November 1868WadeColfax

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:

  • 2 December 1867 to 27 July 1868
  • 21 September 1868 (recessed same day)
  • 16 October 1868 (recessed same day)
  • 10 November 1868 (adjourned sine die same day)
SpecialSENATE1 April 186720 April 1867Wade- - - -

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".

1stExtra4 March 18671 December 1867Wade, 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:

  • 4 March 1867 to 30 March 1867
  • 3 July 1867 to 20 July 1867
  • 21 November 1867 to 1 December 1867
39th2ndshort3 December 18663 March 1867FosterColfax

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).

1stlong4 December 186528 July 1866FosterColfax

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).

SpecialSENATE4 March 186511 March 1865Foster, Lafayette S.
(Rep.- Connecticut)
- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Abraham Lincoln via executive Proclamation issued on 17 February 1865.

38th2ndshort5 December 18643 March 1865ClarkColfax
1stlong7 December 18634 July 1864Foot;
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.

SpecialSENATE4 March 186314 March 1863Foot- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Abraham Lincoln via executive Proclamation issued on 28 February 1863.

37th3rdshort1 December 18623 March 1863FootGrow
2ndlong2 December 186117 July 1862FootGrow
1stExtra4 July 18616 August 1861FootGrow, 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.

SpecialSENATE4 March 186128 March 1861Foot- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President James Buchanan via executive Proclamation issued on 11 February 1861.

36th2ndshort3 December 18603 March 1861Fitzpatrick;
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.

SpecialSENATE26 June 186028 June 1860Fitzpatrick
(returning)
- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President James Buchanan via executive Proclamation issued on 25 June 1860.

1stlong5 December 185925 June 1860Fitzpatrick;
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.

SpecialSENATE4 March 185910 March 1859Fitzpatrick- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President James Buchanan via executive Proclamation issued on 26 February 1859.

35th2ndshort6 December 18583 March 1859FitzpatrickOrr
SpecialSENATE15 June 185816 June 1858Fitzpatrick- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President James Buchanan via executive Proclamation issued on 14 June 1858.

1stlong7 December 185714 June 1858Fitzpatrick, Benjamin
(Dem.- Alabama)
Orr, James L.
(Dem.- South Carolina)
SpecialSENATE4 March 185714 March 1857Mason;
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.

34th3rdshort1 December 18563 March 1857Mason, 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).

2ndExtra21 August 185630 August 1856BrightBanks

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).

1stlong3 December 185518 August 1856BrightBanks, Nathaniel P.
(Amer.- Massachusetts)
33rd2ndshort4 December 18543 March 1855Cass, 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)

1stlong5 December 18537 August 1854AtchisonBoyd

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).

SpecialSENATE4 March 185311 April 1853Atchison- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President Millard Fillmore via executive Proclamation issued on 25 February 1853.

32nd2ndshort6 December 18523 March 1853Atchison, 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).

1stlong1 December 185131 August 1852KingBoyd, Linn
(Dem.- Kentucky)
SpecialSENATE4 March 185113 March 1851King- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by President Millard Fillmore via executive Proclamation issued on 3 March 1851.

31st2ndshort2 December 18503 March 1851KingCobb

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).

1stlong3 December 184930 September 1850King, 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).

SpecialSENATE5 March 184923 March 1849Atchison- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President James Knox Polk via executive Proclamation issued on 2 January 1849.

30th2ndshort4 December 18483 March 1849AtchisonWinthrop
1stlong6 December 184714 August 1848AtchisonWinthrop, Robert C.
(Whig- Massachusetts)
29th2ndshort7 December 18463 March 1847Atchison, David Rice
(Dem.- Missouri)
Davis
1stlong1 December 184510 August 1846Sevier, Ambrose H.
(Dem.- Arkansas)
Davis, John W.
(Dem.- Indiana)
SpecialSENATE4 March 184520 March 1845none- - - -

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.

28th2ndshort2 December 18443 March 1845MangumJones

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).

1stlong4 December 184317 June 1844MangumJones, John W.
(Dem.- Virginia)
27th3rdshort5 December 18423 March 1843MangumWhite

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).

2ndlong6 December 184131 August 1842Southard;
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).

1stExtra31 May 184113 September 1841Southard, 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).

SpecialSENATE4 March 184115 March 1841King- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President Martin Van Buren via executive Proclamation issued on 6 January 1841.

26th2ndshort7 December 18403 March 1841KingHunter
1stlong2 December 183921 July 1840KingHunter, Robert M.T.
(Whig- Virginia)
25th3rdshort3 December 18383 March 1839KingPolk
2ndlong4 December 18379 July 1838KingPolk
1stExtra4 September 183716 October 1837KingPolk

This "extra" Session of the 25th Congress was called by President Martin Van Buren via executive Proclamation issued on 15 May 1837.

SpecialSENATE4 March 183710 March 1837King- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President Andrew Jackson via executive Proclamation issued on 20 December 1836.

24th2ndshort5 December 18363 March 1837KingPolk
1stlong7 December 18354 July 1836King, William R.
(Dem.- Alabama)
Polk, James Knox
(Dem.- Tennessee)
23rd2ndshort1 December 18343 March 1835Tyler, John
(Dem.- Virginia)
Bell
1stlong2 December 183330 June 1834Poindexter, 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.

22nd2ndshort3 December 18322 March 1833White, 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).

1stlong5 December 183116 July 1832Tazewell, Littleton W.
(Dem.-Rep. : Virginia)
Stevenson
21st2ndshort6 December 18303 March 1831SmithStevenson
1stlong7 December 182931 May 1830SmithStevenson
(NOW Dem.-Rep.)
SpecialSENATE4 March 182917 March 1829Smith
(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.

20th2ndshort1 December 18283 March 1829SmithStevenson
1stlong3 December 182726 May 1828Smith, Samuel
(Jackson Rep.- Maryland)
Stevenson, Andrew
(Jackson Rep.- Virginia)
19th2ndshort4 December 18263 March 1827Macon, Nathaniel
(Jackson Rep.- North Carolina)
Taylor
1stlong5 December 182522 May 1826Gaillard
(NOW Jackson Rep.)
Taylor, J.W.
(Jackson Rep.- returning)
SpecialSENATE4 March 18259 March 1825Gaillard- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President James Monroe via executive Proclamation issued on 19 January 1825.

18th2ndshort6 December 18243 March 1825GaillardClay
1stlong1 December 182327 May 1824GaillardClay, H.
(returning)
17th2ndshort2 December 18223 March 1823GaillardBarbour
1stlong3 December 18218 May 1822GaillardBarbour, Philip P.
(Rep.- Virginia)
16th2ndshort13 November 18203 March 1821GaillardJohn W. Taylor
(Rep.- New York)
1stlong6 December 181915 May 1820Barbour;
Gaillard, J.
(returning)
Clay

Senator Gaillard was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate in place of Senator Barbour on 25 January 1820.

15th2ndshort16 November 18183 March 1819Gaillard;
Barbour, James
(Rep.- Virginia)
Clay

Senator Barbour was elected President pro Tempore by the Senate in place of Senator Gaillard on 15 February 1819.

1stlong1 December 181720 April 1818GaillardClay
SpecialSENATE4 March 18176 March 1817Gaillard- - - -

This Special Session of the SENATE was called by outgoing President James Madison via executive Proclamation issued on 1 January 1817.

14th2ndshort2 December 18163 March 1817GaillardClay

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).

1stlong4 December 181530 April 1816GaillardClay, H.
(returning)
13th3rdshort19 September 18143 March 1815Gaillard, 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).

2ndlong6 December 181318 April 1814Varnum, 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.

1stExtra24 May 18132 August 1813noneClay

No Senate President pro Tempore was elected during this "extra" session, as Vice President Elbridge Gerry presided over the Senate during the entire session.

12th2ndshort2 November 18123 March 1813CrawfordClay

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).

1stlong4 November 18116 July 1812Crawford, 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).

11th3rdshort3 December 18103 March 1811Pope, John
(Rep.- Kentucky)
Varnum
2ndlong27 November 18091 May 1810Gaillard, John
(Rep.- South Carolina)
Varnum
1stExtra22 May 180928 June 1809Gregg, Andrew
(Rep.- Pennsylvania)
Varnum
SpecialSENATE4 March 18097 March 1809none- - - -

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.

10th2ndshort7 November 18083 March 1809Bradley, 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.

1stlong26 October 180725 April 1808SmithVarnum, Joseph B.
(Rep.- Massachusetts)
9th2ndshort1 December 18063 March 1807SmithMacon
1stlong2 December 180521 April 1806Smith, Samuel
(Rep.- Maryland)
Macon
SpecialSENATE4 March 1805same daynone- - - -
8th2ndshort5 November 18043 March 1805Anderson, Joseph
(Rep.- Tennessee)
Macon
1stlong17 October 180327 March 1804Brown, 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.

7th2ndshort6 December 18023 March 1803Bradley, Stephen R.
(Rep.- Vermont)
Macon
1stlong7 December 18013 May 1802Baldwin, Abraham
(Rep.- Georgia)
Macon, Nathaniel
(Rep.- North Carolina)
SpecialSENATE4 March 18015 March 1801none- - - -

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.

6th2ndshort17 November 18003 March 1801Howard, 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.

1stlong2 December 179914 May 1800Livermore, 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.

5th3rdshort3 December 17983 March 1799Laurence, 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.

SpecialSENATE17 July 179819 July 1798Sedgwick, Theodore
(Fed.- Massachusetts)
- - - -

This Special Session of the Senate was called by President John Adams via executive Proclamation issued on 13 July 1798.

2ndlong13 November 179716 July 1798Read, Jacob
(Fed.- South Carolina)
Dayton
1stExtra15 May 179710 July 1797Bradford, 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.

SpecialSENATE4 March 1797same daynone- - - -

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.

4th2ndshort5 December 17963 March 1797Bingham, 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.

1stlong7 December 17951 June 1796Tazewell;
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.

SpecialSENATE8 June 179526 June 1795none- - - -

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.

3rd2ndshort3 November 17943 March 1795Tazewell, Henry
(Opp.- Virginia)
Muhlenberg
1stlong2 December 17939 June 1794Izard, Ralph
(Adm.- South Carolina)
Muhlenberg, F.A.C.
(returning)
SpecialSENATE4 March 1793same daynone- - - -

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.

2nd2ndshort5 November 17922 March 1793Langdon, J.
(returning)
Trumbull
1stlong24 October 17918 May 1792Lee, Richard Henry
(Opp.- Virginia)
Trumbull, Jonathan
(Adm.- Connecticut)
SpecialSENATE4 March 1791same daynone- - - -

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.

1st3rdshort6 December 17903 March 1791LangdonMuhlenberg
2ndlong4 January 179012 August 1790LangdonMuhlenberg
1stQuorum6 April 178929 September 1789Langdon, 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 .


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