4th United States Congress
The 4th 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 at Congress Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from March 4, 1795, to March 4, 1797, during the last two years of George Washington's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1790 United States census. The Senate had a Federalist majority, and the House had a Democratic-Republican majority.
Major events
- September 17, 1796: George Washington's Farewell Address warned against partisan politics and foreign entanglements.
- November 4 - December 7, 1796: 1796 United States presidential election: Incumbent vice president John Adams defeated Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson.
Treaties ratified
- June 24, 1795: Treaty of London
- March 7, 1796: Treaty of Madrid
States admitted
- June 1, 1796: Tennessee admitted as a state; formerly the Territory South of the River Ohio, Sess. 1, ch. 47,
Party summary
This was the first Congress to have organized political parties. Details on changes are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section.Leadership
Senate
- President: John Adams
- President pro tempore:
- * Henry Tazewell, first elected December 7, 1795
- * Samuel Livermore, first elected May 6, 1796
- * William Bingham, first elected February 16, 1797
House of Representatives
Members
This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed by class, 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 ended with this Congress, requiring re-election in 1796; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring re-election in 1798; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring re-election in 1800.New Jersey">List of United States senators from New Jersey">New Jersey
House of Representatives
[List of [United States representatives from Connecticut|Connecticut]]
All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.Georgia">List of United States representatives from Georgia">Georgia
Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.New Hampshire">List of United States representatives from New Hampshire">New Hampshire
All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.New Jersey">List of United States representatives from New Jersey">New Jersey
All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.Pennsylvania">List of United States representatives from Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania
The 4th district was a plural district with two representatives.Rhode Island">List of United States representatives from Rhode Island">Rhode Island
Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.Changes in membership
The count below reflects changes from the beginning of this CongressSenate
There were 10 resignations, 2 new seats, and 1 election to replace an appointee. There was a 1-seat gain for both the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans.House of Representatives
There were 9 resignations, 1 death of a Representative-elect, and 1 new seat. There was a 1-seat gain for both the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans.Committees
Lists of committees and their party leaders.Senate
House of Representatives
- Claims
- Commerce and Manufactures
- Elections
- Revisal and Unfinished Business
- Rules
- Ways and Means
- Whole