The
Thirty-eighth 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, 1863 to March 4, 1865, during the
last two years of the first administration of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. The apportionment of seats
in the
House of
Representatives was based on the
Eighth Census of the United States in
1860. Both houses had a
Republican
majority.
Major events
- American Civil War, which had
started in 1861, continued through this Congress and ended later in
1865
Major legislation
Treaties ratified
States admitted and seceded and Territories organized
States admitted
- June
19, 1863 — West
Virginia
admitted
(formed from a portion of Virginia
), (See also
)
- October 31, 1864 — Nevada
admitted,
(See also )
States seceded
Congress did not accept
secession. Secessionists were
not eligible for Congress, and the states of the Confederacy did
not hold elections for it.
- Already seceded in 1861: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida,
Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North
Carolina, Tennessee
Territory organized
Party summary
The count below 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.
Senate
TOTAL members: 52
House of Representatives
TOTAL members: 184
Leadership
Senate
Majority (Republican) leadership
House of Representatives
Majority (Republican) leadership
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 began in this Congress, requiring reelection in
1868; Class 2 meant their term ended in this Congress, requiring
reelection in 1864; and Class 3 meant their term began in the last
Congress, requiring reelection in 1866.
House of Representatives
All representatives were elected statewide on a
general ticket.
Non-voting members
Changes in membership
The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first
session of this Congress.
Senate
- replacements: 2
- deaths: 1
- resignations: 2
- interim appointments: 1
- seats of newly admitted seats: 4
- Total seats with changes: 4
House of Representatives
- replacements: 6
- deaths: 3
- resignations: 3
- contested election: 1
- seats of newly admitted seats: 4
- Total seats with changes: 7
Employees
Senate
House of Representatives
References
External links