8th United States Congress

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The 8th Congress of the United States , consisting of the House and Senate , was the legislature of the United States . Its legislative period lasted from March 4, 1803 to March 4, 1805. All members of the House of Representatives and a third of the senators ( Class I ) were elected in 1802 in the congressional elections. The result was an overwhelming majority for the Democratic-Republican Party in both chambers . The congress met in the American capital Washington, DC At that time the United States consisted of 17 states. For the first time, the 17th state of Ohio was represented in Congress. President was Thomas Jefferson .

The distribution of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1800 census .

The Congress had two sessions. The first was between October 17, 1803 and March 27, 1804, and the second was from November 5, 1804 to March 3, 1805.

Important events

See also 1803, 1804 and 1805

  • March 4, 1803: beginning of the legislative period of the 8th Congress
  • The American Tripolitan War continues throughout the legislature .
  • April 30, 1803: The Louisiana Purchase between France and the USA is completed. This brings the United States into possession of 2,144,476 km² of land in the west. In addition to parts of present-day Louisiana, the area also includes the present-day states of Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota as well as parts of Minnesota, North Dakota, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, as well as the peripheral areas of the Canadian Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta provinces.
  • February 15, 1804: New Jersey becomes the last northern state to abolish slavery .
  • March 26, 1804: Establishment of the Orleans Territory .
  • May 14, 1804: The Lewis and Clark Expedition begins its mission.
  • June 15, 1804: The 12th Amendment to the United States Constitution has been ratified by the necessary number of states and comes into force. It is about the reorganization of the election of the president and the vice-president.
  • July 11, 1804: Vice President Aaron Burr kills Alexander Hamilton in a duel.
  • November 30, 1804: Beginning of the later failed impeachment proceedings against federal judge Samuel Chase .
  • December 3, 1804: In the presidential election of 1804 , Thomas Jefferson is confirmed in office.
  • 1804: The Democratic Republican Party defends its majority in both chambers in the congressional elections.

The main laws

During the session of the 8th Congress, the following federal law was passed ( see also: Legislative procedure ):

  • October 20, 1803: The Senate ratifies the Louisiana Purchase.
  • December 9, 1803: The 12th amendment to the constitution is passed by both chambers and sent to the states for ratification (see above).

Composition according to parties

senate

Total: 34 at the end of the legislative period

House of Representatives

  • Democratic Republican Party: 102
  • Federalist Party: 39
  • Others (0
  • Vacant: 1

Total: 142 at the end of the legislative period

There was also a congress delegate who was not entitled to vote

Public officials

senate

House of Representatives

Senate members

The following senators represented their respective states in the eighth Congress:

Connecticut

Delaware

Georgia

Kentucky

Maryland

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

New Jersey

new York

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South carolina

Tennessee

Vermont

Virginia

Members of the House of Representatives

The following congressmen represented the interests of their respective states in the eighth Congress:

Connecticut All MPs were state-elected.

Delaware

Georgia All MPs were elected state-wide.

Kentucky Six constituencies

Maryland Eight constituencies. The fifth electoral district had two MPs.

Massachusetts Seventeen constituencies

New Hampshire All MPs were state-elected.

New Jersey All MPs were elected state-wide.

New York Seventeen constituencies

North Carolina Twelve constituencies

Ohio

Pennsylvania Eleven constituencies. The first three constituencies had three MPs, the fourth two. The rest one each.

Rhode Island All MPs were state-elected.

South Carolina Eight constituencies

Tennessee All three MPs were state-elected

Vermont four constituencies

Virginia 22 constituencies

Members of the House of Representatives who are not entitled to vote:

Web links

Commons : 8th United States Congress  - Collection of Pictures, Videos, and Audio Files
  • bioguide.congress.gov (by entering 8 under Year OR Congress: you get a list of the members of the 8th Congress with a link to the official biographies; English)