46th United States Congress
The 46th United States Congress , made up of the House and Senate , was the United States' legislature . Its legislative term lasted from March 4, 1879 to March 4, 1881. All members of the House of Representatives and a third of the senators ( Class III ) were elected in the 1878 congressional elections. The Democratic Party won a majority in the Senate. In the House of Representatives, the Democrats were able to secure a slim majority, which at times was only possible with the help of MPs from the splinter parties. The Republican Party provided President Rutherford B. Hayes . The United States then consisted of 38 states. Congress met in the American capital Washington, DC The distribution of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1870 census .
Important events
- March 4, 1879: beginning of the legislative period of the 46th Congress
- 1873 - 1879: The USA suffers from a major economic crisis.
- February 2, 1880: The world's first electric street lighting is introduced in Wabash , Indiana .
- November 2, 1880: US presidential and congressional elections. Republican James A. Garfield is elected new president. He took up his new office on March 4, 1881. There are different majorities in the chambers in the Congress elections. The Democratic Party has a majority in the Senate and the Republican Party wins a majority in the House of Representatives.
- January 25, 1881: Thomas Alva Edison and Alexander Graham Bell found the Oriental Telephone Company .
- February 5, 1881: Founding of the city of Phoenix in the later state of Arizona .
The main laws
During the session of the 46th Congress, the following federal law was passed ( see also: Legislative procedure ):
- February 26, 1879: The To Promote a Knowledge of Steam Engineering and Iron Shipbuilding Act , the law aims to make knowledge of steam engines in general and the construction of ships a subject at American universities.
Composition according to parties
senate
- Democratic Party: 42
- Republican Party: Dec.
- Others: 2
- Vacant: 1
Total: 76 at the end of the legislative period
House of Representatives
- Democratic Party: 146
- Republican Party: 129
- Others: 16
- Vacant: 2
Total: 293 at the end of the legislative period
There were also eight congressional delegates who were not entitled to vote
Public officials
senate
House of Representatives
Senate members
The following senators represented their respective states in the 46th Congress:
Members of the House of Representatives
The following congressmen represented the interests of their respective states in the 46th Congress:
Members of the House of Representatives who are not entitled to vote:
- Arizona Territory : John G. Campbell (D)
- Dakota Territory : Granville G. Bennett (R)
- Idaho Territory : George Ainslie (D)
- Montana Territory : Martin Maginnis (D)
- New Mexico Territory : Mariano S. Otero (R)
- Utah Territory : George Q. Cannon (R)
- Washington Territory : Thomas Hurley Brents (R)
- Wyoming Territory : Stephen Wheeler Downey (R)
Web links
- bioguide.congress.gov (by entering 46 under Year OR Congress: you get a list of the members of the 46th Congress with a link to the official biographies; English)