54th United States Congress


The 54th 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, 1895, to March 4, 1897, during the last two years of Grover Cleveland's second presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1890 United States census. The House had a Republican majority, and the Republicans were the largest party in the Senate.

Major events

Major legislation

  • May 21, 1896: Oil Pipe Line Act, ch. 212,
  • May 22, 1896: Condemned Cannon Act,
  • May 28, 1896: United States Commissioners Act,
  • June 1, 1896: Married Women's Rights Act,
  • June 6, 1896: Filled Cheese Act,
  • January 13, 1897: Stock Reservoir Act,,
  • March 2, 1897: Tea Importation Act,,

States admitted

  • January 4, 1896: Utah was admitted as the 45th state.

Party summary

This count 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

Majority (Republican) leadership

Minority (Democratic) leadership

House of Representatives

Majority (Republican) leadership

Minority (Democratic) leadership

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 began in the last Congress, requiring re-election in 1898; Class 2 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring re-election in 1900; and Class 3 meant their term ended in this Congress, requiring re-election in 1896.

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


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


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


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


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


House of Representatives

The names of representatives are preceded by their district numbers.

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


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


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


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


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

Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

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

Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

Changes in membership

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

Senate

Two seats were added when Utah was admitted and one seat was filled late.

House of Representatives

There were 4 deaths, 2 resignations, 13 election challenges, 1 new seat, and 4 seats vacant from the previous Congress. Democrats had a 10-seat net loss; Republicans had a 12-seat net gain; and Populists had a 2-seat net gain.

Committees

Senate

House of Representatives

Joint committees

Caucuses

Employees

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

Senate

House of Representatives