50th United States Congress


The 50th 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, 1887, to March 4, 1889, during the last two years of Grover Cleveland's first presidency. The president List of [United States presidential vetoes|vetoed] 212 pieces of legislation, the greatest number in a single session of Congress.
The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1880 United States census. The Senate had a Republican majority, and the House had a Democratic 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

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 this Congress, requiring reelection in 1892; Class 2 meant their term ended in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1888; and Class 3 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1890.

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


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


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


South Carolina">List of United States senators from South Carolina">South Carolina


House of Representatives

The names of representatives are preceded by their district numbers.

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


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


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


South Carolina">List of United States representatives from South Carolina">South Carolina


Changes in membership

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

Senate

  • Replacements: 1
  • * Democratic: no net change
  • * Republican: no net change
  • * Liberal Republican: 1 seat net loss
  • Deaths: 0
  • Resignations: 1
  • Interim appointments: 1
  • Total seats with changes: 2
State
Vacated byReason for vacancySubsequentDate of successor's installation
West Virginia
VacantFilled vacancy in term.Charles J. Faulkner May 5, 1887
Florida
VacantFilled vacancy in term.Samuel Pasco May 19, 1887
New Hampshire
Person C. Cheney Successor was elected June 14, 1887William E. Chandler June 14, 1887

House of Representatives

  • Replacements: 8
  • * Democratic: no net change
  • * Republican: no net change
  • Deaths: 4
  • Resignations: 5
  • Contested election: 0
  • '''Total seats with changes: 8'''

Committees

Senate

House of Representatives

Joint committees

Caucuses

Administrative officers

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

Senate

House of Representatives