32nd United States Congress
The 32nd 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, 1851, to March 4, 1853, during the last two years of Millard Fillmore's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1840 [United States census]. Both chambers had a Democratic majority.
It was one of the least active Congresses, forwarding only 74 bills that were signed by the president.
Major events
- March 20, 1852: Uncle Tom's Cabin published.
- July 1, 1852: Henry Clay was the first to lie in state in the United States Capitol rotunda.
- November 2, 1852: 1852 United States presidential election: Democrat Franklin Pierce defeated Whig Winfield Scott.
Major legislation
- March 2, 1853: An act providing for administering the oath of office to William R. King, Vice President elect of the United States of America. Sess. 2, Ch. 93,
Territories organized
- March 2, 1853: Washington Territory was formed from Oregon Territory.
Leadership
Senate
- President of [the United States Senate|President]: Vacant
- President pro tempore of [the United States Senate|President pro tempore]: William R. King, until December 20, 1852
- * David R. Atchison, from December 20, 1852
House of Representatives
Members
This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed by class and representatives 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 with this Congress, facing re-election in 1856; Class 2 meant their term ended with this Congress, facing re-election in 1852; and Class 3 meant their term began in the last Congress, facing re-election in 1854.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.Senate
- Replacements: 8
- * Democrats (D): 1 seat net gain
- * Whigs (W): 1 seat net loss
- Deaths: 3
- Resignations: 6
- Interim appointments: 3
- '''Total seats with changes: 13'''
House of Representatives
- Replacements: 6
- * Democrats (D): 1 seat net loss
- * Whigs (W): 1 seat net gain
- Deaths: 2
- Resignations: 5
- '''Total seats with changes: 7'''
Committees
Lists of committees and their party leaders.Senate
- Agriculture
- Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate
- Claims
- Commerce
- Contested Election of 1850
- Distributing Public Revenue Among the States
- District of Columbia
- Emigrant Route and Telegraphic Line to California
- Ether Discovery
- Finance
- Foreign Relations
- French Spoilations
- Indian Affairs
- Judiciary
- Manufactures
- Library
- Mexican Boundary
- Mexican Boundary Commission
- Mexican Claims Commission
- Military Affairs
- Militia
- Naval Affairs
- Ordnance and War Ships
- Patents and the Patent Office
- Pensions
- Post Office and Post Roads
- Printing
- Private Land Claims
- Public Buildings and Grounds
- Public Lands
- Purchase of Catlin's Collection of Indian Scenes
- Retrenchment
- Revolutionary Claims
- Roads and Canals
- Tariff Regulation
- Territories
- Seventh Census
- Whole
House of Representatives
- Accounts
- Agriculture
- Bounty Land Act of 1850
- Bounty Land Bill
- Claims
- Commerce
- District of Columbia
- Elections
- Engraving
- Expenditures in the Navy Department
- Expenditures in the Post Office Department
- Expenditures in the State Department
- Expenditures in the Treasury Department
- Expenditures in the War Department
- Expenditures on Public Buildings
- Foreign Affairs
- Indian Affairs
- Invalid Pensions
- Judiciary
- Manufactures
- Mileage
- Military Affairs
- Militia
- Naval Affairs
- Patents
- Post Office and Post Roads
- Private Land Claims
- Public Buildings and Grounds
- Public Expenditures
- Public Lands
- Revisal and Unfinished Business
- Revolutionary Claims
- Revolutionary Pensions
- Roads and Canals
- Rules
- Standards of Official Conduct
- Territories
- Ways and Means
- Whole
Joint committees
Caucuses
Employees
Legislative branch agency">List of federal agencies in the United States#United States Congress">Legislative branch agency directors
- Architect of the Capitol: Thomas U. Walter, appointed June 11, 1851
- Librarian of Congress: John Silva Meehan
Senate
House of Representatives
- Chaplain: Ralph Randolph Gurley, until December 1, 1851
- * Lyttleton Morgan, elected December 1, 1851
- * James Gallagher, elected December 6, 1852
- Clerk: Richard M. Young, until December 1, 1851
- * John W. Forney, from December 1, 1851
- Doorkeeper: Zadock W. McKnew
- Reading Clerks:
- Sergeant at Arms: Adam J. Glossbrenner
- Postmaster: John M. Johnson