6th United States Congress
The 6th United States Congress was the 6th meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It initially met at Congress Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and then was the first congress to meet in the new Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.. Its term was from March 4, 1799, to March 4, 1801, during the last two years of John Adams's presidency. It was the last Congress of the 18th century and the first to convene in the 19th. The apportionment of seats in House of Representatives was based on the 1790 United States census. Both chambers had a Federalist majority. This was the last Congress in which the Federalist Party controlled the presidency or either chamber of Congress.
Major events
- December 14, 1799: Former President George Washington died
- February 24, 1800: Library of Congress founded
- November 17, 1800: Congress held its first session in Washington, D.C.
- January 20, 1801: John Marshall was appointed Chief Justice of the United States
- February 17, 1801: 1800 United States presidential election: Thomas Jefferson became the first President of the United States elected by the House of Representatives as no candidate received a majority of the electoral votes cast in the 1800 presidential election. The House was required to choose between Jefferson and Aaron Burr, with each of the 16 states having a single vote. Jefferson was elected on the 36th ballot by 10 to 4.
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Delaware
- South Carolina
Total: 10 Total: 4 Total: 2 Major legislation
- April 4, 1800: Bankruptcy Act of 1800, Sess. 1, ch. 19,
- May 7, 1800: Indiana Organic Act, Sess. 1, ch. 41, ; effective July 4, 1800
- May 10, 1800: Slave Trade Act of 1800, Sess. 2, ch. 51,
- February 13, 1801: Judiciary Act of 1801, Sess. 2, ch. 4,
- February 27, 1801: District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801, Sess.2, ch. 15,
Party summary
Senate
House of Representatives
Leadership
Senate
- President: Thomas Jefferson
- President pro tempore: Samuel Livermore, elected December 2, 1799
- * Uriah Tracy, elected May 14, 1800
- * John E. Howard,, elected November 21, 1800
- * James Hillhouse,, elected February 28, 1801
House of Representatives
- Speaker: Theodore Sedgwick
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 the last Congress, requiring re-election in 1802; Class 2 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring re-election in 1804; and Class 3 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring re-election in 1800.[List of [United States senators from Connecticut|Connecticut]]
Delaware">List of United States senators from Delaware">Delaware
Georgia">List of United States senators from Georgia">Georgia
Kentucky">List of United States senators from Kentucky">Kentucky
Maryland">List of United States senators from Maryland">Maryland
Massachusetts">List of United States senators from Massachusetts">Massachusetts
New Hampshire">List of United States senators from New Hampshire">New Hampshire
New Jersey">List of United States senators from New Jersey">New Jersey
New York">List of United States senators from New York">New York
North Carolina">List of United States senators from North Carolina">North Carolina
Pennsylvania">List of United States senators from Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania
Rhode Island">List of United States senators from Rhode Island">Rhode Island
South Carolina">List of United States senators from South Carolina">South Carolina
Tennessee">List of United States senators from Tennessee">Tennessee
Vermont">List of United States senators from Vermont">Vermont
Virginia">List of United States senators from Virginia">Virginia
House of Representatives
The names of representatives elected statewide on the general ticket or otherwise at-large, are preceded by an "At-large," and the names of those elected from districts, whether plural or single member, are preceded by their district numbers.[List of [United States representatives from Connecticut|Connecticut]]
All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.Delaware">List of United States representatives from Delaware">Delaware
Georgia">List of United States representatives from Georgia">Georgia
Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.Kentucky">List of United States representatives from Kentucky">Kentucky
Maryland">List of United States representatives from Maryland">Maryland
Massachusetts">List of United States representatives from Massachusetts">Massachusetts
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
New York">List of United States representatives from New York">New York
North Carolina">List of United States representatives from North Carolina">North Carolina
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.South Carolina">List of United States representatives from South Carolina">South Carolina
Tennessee">List of United States representatives from Tennessee">Tennessee
Vermont">List of United States representatives from Vermont">Vermont
Virginia">List of United States representatives from Virginia">Virginia
Non-voting members
Changes in membership
The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this CongressSenate
There were 7 resignations and 1 vacancy at the beginning of Congress. The Federalists had a 1-seat net loss and the Democratic-Republicans had a 2-seat net gain.House of Representatives
There were 6 resignations and 3 deaths. The Federalists had a 4-seat net loss and the Democratic-Republicans had a 3-seat net gain.Committees
Lists of committees and their party leaders.Senate
- Whole
House of Representatives
- Claims
- Commerce and Manufactures
- Elections
- Revisal and Unfinished Business
- Rules
- Standards of Official Conduct
- Ways and Means
- Whole
Joint committees
- Enrolled Bills
Administrative officers
- Architect of the Capitol: William Thornton
Senate
- Chaplain: William White, Episcopalian, until November 27, 1800
- * Thomas J. Claggett, Episcopalian, elected November 27, 1800
- Doorkeeper: James Mathers
- Secretary: Samuel Otis
House of Representatives
- Chaplain: Ashbel Green, Presbyterian, until November 27, 1800
- * Thomas Lyell, Methodist, elected November 27, 1800
- Clerk: Jonathan W. Condy, resigned December 4, 1800
- * John H. Oswald, elected December 9, 1800
- Doorkeeper: Thomas Claxton
- Reading Clerks:
- Sergeant at Arms: Joseph Wheaton