28th United States Congress
The 28th 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, 1843, to March 4, 1845, during the third and fourth years of John Tyler's presidency. The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the 1840 United States census. The Senate had a Whig majority, and the House had a Democratic majority.
Major events
- May 24, 1844: The first electrical telegram was sent by Samuel F. B. Morse from the U.S. Capitol to the B&O Railroad "outer depot" in Baltimore, Maryland, saying "What hath God wrought".
- December 4, 1844: U.S. presidential election, 1844: James K. Polk defeated Henry Clay
Major legislation
- January 23, 1845: Presidential Election Day Act, ch. 1,
- March 3, 1845: For the first time, Congress overrode a Presidential veto. An act relating to revenue cutters and steamers was thereby enacted as the last Act of the 28th Congress: session II, ch. 78,.
Treaties
- July 3, 1844: Treaty of Wanghia which was signed with the Qing Empire. The treaty established five U.S. treaty ports in China with extraterritoriality and was the first unequal treaty that the country imposed on the dynasty.
States admitted
- March 1, 1845: Resolution for the Annexation of Texas,
- March 3, 1845: Florida admitted,. The statute also allowed for the provisional admission of Iowa, pending a referendum in that state.
Party summary
Senate
During this congress, two Senate seats were added for the new state of Florida.House of Representatives
Following the 1840 United States census, Congress reapportioned the House to include 223 seats. During this congress, one House seat was added for the new state of Florida.Leadership
Senate
- President: Vacant
- President pro tempore: Willie P. Mangum
House of Representatives
- Speaker: John W. Jones
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 ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1844; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1846; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1848.[List of [United States senators from Alabama|Alabama]]
Arkansas">List of United States senators from Arkansas">Arkansas
Connecticut">List of United States senators from Connecticut">Connecticut
Delaware">List of United States senators from Delaware">Delaware
Florida">List of United States senators from Florida">Florida
Georgia">List of United States senators from Georgia">Georgia
Illinois">List of United States senators from Illinois">Illinois
Indiana">List of United States senators from Indiana">Indiana
Kentucky">List of United States senators from Kentucky">Kentucky
Louisiana">List of United States senators from Louisiana">Louisiana
Maine">List of United States senators from Maine">Maine
Maryland">List of United States senators from Maryland">Maryland
Massachusetts">List of United States senators from Massachusetts">Massachusetts
Michigan">List of United States senators from Michigan">Michigan
Mississippi">List of United States senators from Mississippi">Mississippi
Missouri">List of United States senators from Missouri">Missouri
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
Ohio">List of United States senators from Ohio">Ohio
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
Representatives are listed by their district numbers.[List of [United States representatives from Alabama|Alabama]]
Arkansas">List of United States representatives from Arkansas">Arkansas
Connecticut">List of United States representatives from Connecticut">Connecticut
Delaware">List of United States representatives from Delaware">Delaware
Florida">List of United States representatives from Florida">Florida
Georgia">List of United States representatives from Georgia">Georgia
All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.Illinois">List of United States representatives from Illinois">Illinois
Indiana">List of United States representatives from Indiana">Indiana
Kentucky">List of United States representatives from Kentucky">Kentucky
Louisiana">List of United States representatives from Louisiana">Louisiana
Maine">List of United States representatives from Maine">Maine
Maryland">List of United States representatives from Maryland">Maryland
Massachusetts">List of United States representatives from Massachusetts">Massachusetts
Michigan">List of United States representatives from Michigan">Michigan
Mississippi">List of United States representatives from Mississippi">Mississippi
All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.Missouri">List of United States representatives from Missouri">Missouri
All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.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
Ohio">List of United States representatives from Ohio">Ohio
Pennsylvania">List of United States representatives from Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania
Rhode Island">List of United States representatives from Rhode Island">Rhode Island
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 Congress.Senate
- Replacements: 7
- * Democrats : no net change
- * Whigs : 1 seat net loss
- * Law and Order : 1 seat net gain
- Deaths: 3
- Resignations: 5
- Interim appointments: 1
- '''Total seats with changes: 10'''
House of Representatives
- Replacements: 14
- * Democrats : 6 seat net loss
- * Whigs : 6 seat net gain
- Deaths: 7
- Resignations: 7
- Contested election: 0
- '''Total seats with changes: 16'''
Committees
Senate
House of Representatives
Joint committees
- Enrolled Bills
- The Library
- Smithsonian Bequest
Employees
- Librarian of Congress: John Silva Meehan
Senate
- Chaplain: Septimus Tustin
- Secretary: Asbury Dickins
- Sergeant at Arms: Edward Dyer
House of Representatives
- Chaplain: Isaac S. Tinsley, elected December 16, 1843
- * William M. Daily, from December 4, 1844
- Clerk: Matthew St. Clair Clarke, until December 7, 1843
- * Caleb J. McNulty, elected December 7, 1843
- * Benjamin B. French, elected January 18, 1845
- Doorkeeper: Jesse E. Dow, elected December 7, 1843
- Postmaster: William J. McCormick, until January 4, 1844
- * John M. Johnson, from January 4, 1844
- Reading Clerks:
- Sergeant at Arms: Eleazor M. Townsend, until December 8, 1843
- * Newton Lane, from December 8, 1843