42nd United States Congress


The 42nd United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States [House of Representatives]. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1871, to March 4, 1873, during the third and fourth years of Ulysses S. Grant's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1860 [United States census]. Both chambers had a Republican majority.

Major events

Major legislation

Party summary

The count below identifies party affiliations at the beginning of the first session of this Congress, and includes members from vacancies and newly admitted states, when they were first seated. Changes resulting from subsequent replacements are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section.

Leadership

Senate

House of Representatives

Members

This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed in order of seniority, and representatives are listed by district.

Senate

Senators were elected by the state legislatures every two years, with one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election. In this Congress, Class 1 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring re-election in 1874; Class 2 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring re-election in 1876; and Class 3 meant their term ended in this Congress, requiring re-election in 1872.

Illinois">List of United States senators from Illinois">Illinois


Massachusetts">List of United States senators from Massachusetts">Massachusetts


New Jersey">List of United States senators from New Jersey">New Jersey


Tennessee">List of United States senators from Tennessee">Tennessee


House of Representatives

The names of representatives are preceded by their district numbers.

Illinois">List of United States representatives from Illinois">Illinois


Massachusetts">List of United States representatives from Massachusetts">Massachusetts


New Jersey">List of United States representatives from New Jersey">New Jersey


Tennessee">List of United States representatives from Tennessee">Tennessee


Changes in membership

The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.

Senate

  • Replacements: 0
  • * Democratic: no net change
  • * Republican: no net change
  • Deaths: 0
  • Resignations: 2
  • Contested elections: 0
  • '''Total seats with changes: 4'''

House of Representatives

Committees

Senate

House of Representatives

Joint committees

Caucuses

Employees

Legislative branch agency">List of federal agencies in the United States#United States Congress">Legislative branch agency directors

Senate

House of Representatives