The 33rd 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, 1853, to March 4, 1855, during the first two years of Franklin Pierce's presidency. During this session, the Kansas–Nebraska Act was passed, an act that soon led to the creation of the Republican Party. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1850 United States census. Both chambers had a Democratic majority.

Major events

Major legislation

Treaties

Territories organized

Party summary

Senate

House of Representatives

For the beginning of this congress, the size of the House was increased from 233 seats to 234 seats, following the 1850 United States census (See ).

Leadership

[President of the Senate

William R. King | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/William///Rufus///DeVane///King///1839///portrait.jpg]

Senate

House of Representatives

Members

This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed by class, 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 the last Congress, requiring re-election in 1856; Class 2 meant their term began with this Congress, requiring re-election in 1858; and Class 3 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring re-election in 1854. The United States consisted of 31 states during this Congress.

Alabama

Arkansas

California

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Mississippi

Missouri

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Vermont

Virginia

Wisconsin

[Senators' party membership by state at the opening of the 33rd Congress in March 1853. The gray stripes represent Know-Nothings. The green stripes represent Free Soil.

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[Senate President pro tempore

David R. Atchison | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/David///Rice///Atchison.jpg]

[Senate President pro tempore

Jesse D. Bright | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/JesseDBright.jpg]

House of Representatives

The names of members of the House of Representatives are preceded by their district numbers.

Alabama

Arkansas

California

Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Mississippi

Missouri

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Vermont

Virginia

Wisconsin

Non-voting members

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Changes in membership

The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.

Senate

(2) Successor was elected July 20, 1853. (2) Successor elected November 29, 1853. (2) Successor elected January 7, 1854. (2) Successor was elected February 10, 1854. (2) Successor was elected December 6, 1854. (3) Successor appointed July 6, 1853. (3) Successor elected December 5, 1853. (2) (3) Successor elected October 14, 1854. (3) Successor was elected May 24, 1854. (2) Successor was appointed to serve until a new successor was elected. (2) (3) Successor appointed January 16, 1855, to finish the term. (2) (3)

House of Representatives

Committees

List of committees and their party leaders.

Senate

House of Representatives

Joint committees

Caucuses

Employees

Legislative branch agency directors

Senate

House of Representatives