34th United States Congress


The 34th 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, 1855, to March 4, 1857, during the last two years of Franklin Pierce's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1850 [United States census]. The Whig Party, one of the two major parties of the era, had largely collapsed, although many former Whigs ran as Republicans or as members of the "Opposition Party." The Senate had a Democratic majority, and the House was controlled by a coalition of Representatives led by Nathaniel P. Banks, a member of the American Party.

Major events

Major legislation

Treaties

Image:JesseDBright.jpg|thumb|right|175px|President pro tempore
Jesse D. Bright
[Image:JMMason.jpg|thumb|right|175px|President pro tempore
James M. Mason]
Image:NPBanks.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Speaker of the House
Nathaniel P. Banks

Party summary

The count below identifies party affiliations at the beginning of this Congress. Changes resulting from subsequent replacements are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section.
During the elections for this Congress, opponents to the Democrats used the Whig party label inconsistently and not at all in some states. Hence in this Congress, and in accordance with the practice of the Senate and House, representatives not associated with the Democratic Party or the American Party are labeled as "Opposition." This is the first example in U.S. history of a form of coalition government in either house of Congress.

House of Representatives

The parties that opposed the Democrats joined a coalition and formed the majority. The Know Nothings caucused with the Opposition coalition.

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 ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1856; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1858; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1860.

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


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


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


House of Representatives

The names of representatives are preceded by their district numbers.

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

Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

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


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


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.

House of Representatives

  • Replacements: 6
  • * Democrats: 2 seat net loss
  • * Opposition: 4 seat net gain
  • Deaths: 4
  • Resignations: 5
  • Contested election: 1
  • '''Total seats with changes: 10'''

Committees

List of committees and their party leaders.

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