2nd United States Congress explained

2nd United States Congress should not be confused with Second Continental Congress.

Ordinal:	2
Imagename:	Congress Hall
Imagedate:	2007
Start:	March 4, 1791
End:	March 3, 1793
Vp:	John Adams (P)
Pro Tem:	Richard Henry Lee (P) John Langdon (P)
Speaker:	Jonathan Trumbull Jr. (P)
Senators:	26–30
Reps:	65-69
S-Majority:	Pro-Administration
H-Majority:	Pro-Administration
Sessionnumber1:	Special
Sessionstart1:	March 4, 1791
Sessionend1:	March 4, 1791
Sessionnumber2:	1st
Sessionstart2:	October 24, 1791
Sessionend2:	May 8, 1792
Sessionnumber3:	2nd
Sessionstart3:	November 5, 1792
Sessionend3:	March 2, 1793

The 2nd United States Congress, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, met at Congress Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from March 4, 1791, to March 4, 1793, during the third and fourth years of George Washington's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the provisions of Article I, Section 2, Clause 3 of the United States Constitution. Additional House seats were assigned to the two new states of Vermont and Kentucky. Both chambers had a Pro-Administration majority.

Major events

See main article: 1791 in the United States, 1792 in the United States and 1793 in the United States.

• April 5, 1792: President Washington used the veto for the first time, vetoing a bill designed to apportion representatives among U.S. states.
• April–May, 1792: the House conducted the government's first investigative hearings, examining Gen. Arthur St. Clair's Defeat in the Battle of the Wabash.
• October 13, 1792: Foundation of Washington, D.C.: The cornerstone of the United States Executive Mansion, now known as the White House, was laid.

Major legislation

• February 20, 1792: Postal Service Act, Sess. 1, ch. 7,, established the U.S. Post Office
• March 1, 1792: Act relative to the Election of a President and Vice President of the United States, and to Presidential Succession, Sess. 1, ch. 8,, stated the process for electors and Congress to follow when electing a president and vice president, and established which federal officer would act as president if both the offices of president and vice president became vacant.
• April 2, 1792: Coinage Act of 1792, Sess. 1, ch. 16,, established the United States Mint and regulated coinage
• April 14, 1792: Apportionment Act of 1792, Sess. 1, ch. 23, increased the size of the House of Representatives from 69 seats in the 2nd Congress to 105 in the 3rd and apportioned those seats among the several states according to the 1790 census
• May 2, 1792: First Militia Act of 1792, Sess. 1, ch. 28,, empowered the president to call out the militias of the various states in the event of an invasion or rebellion.
• May 5, 1792: Debtors' Prison Relief Act of 1792, Sess. 1, ch. 29,, established penal regulations and restrictions for persons' gaoled for property debt, tax evasion, and tax resistance.
• May 8, 1792: Second Militia Act of 1792, Sess. 1, ch. 33,, required that every free able-bodied white male citizen of the various states, between the ages of 18 and 45, enroll in the militia of the state in which they reside.
• February 12, 1793: Fugitive Slave Act of 1793, Sess. 2, ch. 7,
• March 2, 1793: Judiciary Act of 1793 (including Anti-Injunction Act), Sess. 2, ch. 22,

States admitted

• March 4, 1791: Vermont was admitted as the 14th state,
• June 1, 1792: Kentucky was admitted as the 15th state,

Constitutional amendments

• December 15, 1791: The first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified by the requisite number of states (then 11) to become part of the Constitution.

Party summary

There were no political parties in this Congress. Members are informally grouped into factions of similar interest, based on an analysis of their voting record.^[1]

Details on changes are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section.

Senate

During this congress, two new Senate seats were added for each of the new states of Vermont and Kentucky.

Beginning of the CongressFile:United States Senate 1793.svg

End of the Congress

	Faction (Shading indicates faction control)		Total
	Anti-Administration (A)	Pro-Administration (P)		Vacant
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	End of previous Congress	8		18	26	0
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	Begin	8		17	25	1
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	March 4, 1791			16	24	2
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	June 13, 1791		17	25	1
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	November 4, 1791	10	27
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	June 18, 1792	12	29
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	October 8, 1792	11	28	2
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	October 18, 1792	12	29	1
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	November 30, 1792			16	28	2
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	January 10, 1793		17	29	1
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	February 28, 1793	13	30	0
Final voting share	43.3%		56.7%
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	Beginning of the next Congress	14		16	30	0

House of Representatives

During this congress, two new House seats were added for each of the new states of Vermont and Kentucky. (Sess. 3, ch. 9,)

Beginning of the CongressFile:28-36-1V.svg

End of the Congress

	Faction (Shading indicates faction control)		Total
	Anti-Administration (A)	Pro-Administration (P)		Vacant
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	End of previous Congress	28		36	64	1
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	Begin March 4, 1791	25		37	62	3
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	April 4, 1791		38	63	2
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	October 24, 1791	28	66	1
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	November 1791		37	65	2
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	February 6, 1792	29	66	1
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	March 21, 1792	28	65	2
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	April 2, 1792		38	66	1
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	June 1, 1792	27	65	4
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	November 8, 1792	28	66	3
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	November 9, 1792	29	67	2
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	November 22, 1792	30	68	1
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	December 6, 1792	29	67	2
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	January 30, 1793			39	68	1
Final voting share	42.6%		57.4%
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	Beginning of the next Congress		55	50	105	0

Leadership

Senate

• President

John Adams (P)

• President pro tempore

• • Richard Henry Lee (P)
  • John Langdon (P), elected November 5, 1792

House of Representatives

• Speaker

Jonathan Trumbull Jr. (P)

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 this Congress, facing re-election in 1796; Class 2 meant their term ended with this Congress, facing re-election in 1792; and Class 3 meant their term began in the last Congress, facing re-election in 1794.

1. Oliver Ellsworth (P)

3. William S. Johnson (P), until March 4, 1791

Roger Sherman (P), from June 13, 1791

1. George Read (P)

2. Richard Bassett (P)

2. William Few (A)

3. James Gunn (A)

2. John Brown (A), from June 18, 1792

3. John Edwards (A), from June 18, 1792

1. Charles Carroll (P), until November 30, 1792

Richard Potts (P), from February 4, 1793

3. John Henry (P)

1. George Cabot (P)

2. Caleb Strong (P)

2. Paine Wingate (A)

3. John Langdon (P)

1. John Rutherfurd (P)

2. Philemon Dickinson (P)

1. Aaron Burr (A)

3. Rufus King (P)

2. Samuel Johnston (P)

3. Benjamin Hawkins (P)

1. Albert Gallatin (A), from February 28, 1793 (not formally installed until next Congress)

3. Robert Morris (P)

1. Theodore Foster (P)

2. Joseph Stanton Jr. (A)

2. Pierce Butler (A)

3. Ralph Izard (P)

1. Moses Robinson (A), from October 17, 1791

3. Stephen R. Bradley (A), from October 17, 1791

2. Richard Henry Lee (A), until October 8, 1792

John Taylor of Caroline (A), from December 12, 1792

1. James Monroe (A)

House of Representatives

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

All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

. James Hillhouse (P)

. Amasa Learned (P)

. Jonathan Sturges (P)

. Jonathan Trumbull Jr. (P)

. Jeremiah Wadsworth (P)

. John Vining (P)

All representatives were elected statewide from individual districts.

. Anthony Wayne (A), until March 21, 1792 (seat declared vacant)

John Milledge (A), from November 22, 1792

. Abraham Baldwin (A)

. Francis Willis (A)

. Christopher Greenup (A), from November 9, 1792

. Alexander D. Orr (A), from November 8, 1792

All representatives were elected statewide from individual districts.

. Philip Key (P)

. Joshua Seney (A), until December 6, 1792

William Hindman (P), from January 30, 1793

. William Pinkney (P), until November 9, 1791

John F. Mercer (A), from February 6, 1792

. Samuel Sterett (A)

. William Vans Murray (P)

. Upton Sheredine (A)

. Fisher Ames (P)

. Benjamin Goodhue (P)

. Elbridge Gerry (A)

. Theodore Sedgwick (P)

. Shearjashub Bourne (P)

. George Leonard (P), from April 2, 1792 (late election)

. Artemas Ward (P)

. George Thatcher (P), from April 4, 1791 (late election)

All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

. Nicholas Gilman (P)

. Samuel Livermore (P)

. Jeremiah Smith (P)

All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

. Elias Boudinot (P)

. Abraham Clark (P)

. Jonathan Dayton (P)

. Aaron Kitchell (A)

. Thomas Tredwell (A), from October 24, 1791

. John Laurance (P)

. Egbert Benson (P)

. Cornelius C. Schoonmaker (A)

. Peter Silvester (P)

. James Gordon (P)

There was a special redistricting for this Congress.

. John Steele (P)

. Nathaniel Macon (A)

. John Baptista Ashe (A)

. Hugh Williamson (A)

. William Barry Grove (P)

. Thomas Fitzsimons (P)

. Frederick Muhlenberg (A)

. Israel Jacobs (P)

. Daniel Hiester (A)

. John Wilkes Kittera (P)

. Andrew Gregg (A)

. Thomas Hartley (P)

. William Findley (A)

. Benjamin Bourne (P)

. William L. Smith (P)

. Robert Barnwell (P)

. Daniel Huger (P)

. Thomas Sumter (A)

. Thomas Tudor Tucker (A)

. Israel Smith (A), from October 31, 1791

. Nathaniel Niles (A), from October 31, 1791

. Alexander White (P)

. John Brown (A), until June 1, 1792 (when his district became Kentucky)

Vacant thereafter

. Andrew Moore (A)

. Richard Bland Lee (P)

. James Madison (A)

. Abraham B. Venable (A)

. John Page (A)

. Josiah Parker (P)

. William B. Giles (A)

. Samuel Griffin (A)

Membership changes

There were no political parties in this Congress. Members are informally grouped into factions of similar interest, based on an analysis of their voting record.^[1]

Vermont and Kentucky were newly admitted as states and are first represented in this Congress.

Senate

There were three resignations, one contested election, and four new seats of admitted states, resulting in a four-seat net gain of the Anti-Administration Senators.

See also: List of special elections to the United States Senate.

|-| Pennsylvania
(1)| Vacant| Legislature failed to elect senator.
Successor elected February 28, 1793.| | Albert Gallatin (A)| December 2, 1793

|-| Connecticut
(3)| | William S. Johnson (P)| Resigned March 4, 1791.
Successor elected June 13, 1791.| | Roger Sherman (P)| June 13, 1791

|-| Vermont
(3)| rowspan=2 | New seat| rowspan=2 | Vermont was admitted to the Union March 4, 1791.
Winners elected October 17, 1791.| | Stephen R. Bradley (A)| November 4, 1791

|-| Vermont
(1)| | Moses Robinson (A)| November 4, 1791

|-| Kentucky
(3)| rowspan=2 | New seat| rowspan=2 | Kentucky was admitted to the Union June 1, 1792.
Winners elected June 18, 1792.| | John Edwards (A)| June 18, 1792

|-| Kentucky
(2)| | John Brown (A)| June 18, 1792

|-| Virginia
(2)| | Richard Henry Lee (A)| Resigned October 8, 1792.
Successor elected October 18, 1792.| | John Taylor (A)| October 18, 1792

|-| Maryland
(1)| | Charles Carroll (P)| Resigned November 30, 1792.
Successor elected January 10, 1793.| | Richard Potts (P)| January 10, 1793

|}

House of Representatives

There were 3 resignations, 1 vacancy of a member-elect, 1 contested election, 2 late elections, and 4 new seats of admitted states, resulting in a 3-seat net gain of the Anti-Administration members and a 1-seat net gain of the Pro-Administration members.

See main article: List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives.

|-| nowrap | | Vacant| Due to failure to reach a majority, four ballots were needed to elect. Incumbent was elected late April 4, 1791.| | George Thatcher (P)| April 4, 1791

|-| nowrap | | Vacant| Representative-elect James Townsend died on May 24, 1790, before Congress assembled.| | Thomas Tredwell (A)| October 24, 1791

|-| nowrap | | rowspan=2 | New seat| rowspan=2 | Vermont was admitted to the Union on March 4, 1791.| | Israel Smith (A)| October 24, 1791

|-| nowrap | | | Nathaniel Niles (A)| October 24, 1791

|-| nowrap | | | William Pinkney (P)| Resigned November 1791| | John Francis Mercer (A)| February 6, 1792

|-| nowrap | | Vacant| Due to failure to reach a majority, eight ballots were needed to elect. Incumbent was elected late April 2, 1792.| | George Leonard (P)| April 2, 1792

|-| nowrap | | | John Brown (A)| Resigned June 1, 1792, to become U.S. Senator from Kentucky.| Vacant| Seat went with Kentucky

|-| nowrap | | rowspan=2 | New seat| rowspan=2 | Kentucky was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1792.| | Alexander D. Orr (A)| November 8, 1792

|-| nowrap | | | Christopher Greenup (A)| November 9, 1792

|-| nowrap | | | Anthony Wayne (A)| Anthony Wayne served until March 21, 1792, when seat declared vacant because the election was contested| | John Milledge (A)| November 22, 1792

|-| nowrap | | | Joshua Seney (A)| Resigned December 6, 1792.| | William Hindman (P)| January 30, 1793

|}

Committees

Lists of committees and their party leaders.

Senate

• Whole

House of Representatives

• Elections (Chairman: Samuel Livermore)
• Rules (Select)
• Whole

Joint committees

• Enrolled Bills (Chairman: John Rutherfurd)

Employees

Senate

• Secretary

Samuel A. Otis

• Doorkeeper

• Chaplain

William White (Episcopalian)

House of Representatives

• Clerk

John Beckley

• Sergeant at Arms

• Doorkeeper

• Chaplain

• • Samuel Blair Presbyterian
  • Ashbel Green, Presbyterian, elected November 5, 1792
• Reading Clerks:

See also

• 1790 United States elections (elections leading to this Congress)
  • 1790–91 United States Senate elections
  • 1790–91 United States House of Representatives elections
• 1792 United States elections (elections during this Congress, leading to the next Congress)
  • 1792 United States presidential election
  • 1792–93 United States Senate elections
  • 1792–93 United States House of Representatives elections

References

• Book: Martis, Kenneth C.. The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. 1989. Macmillan Publishing Company. New York.
• Book: Martis, Kenneth C.. The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. 1982. Macmillan Publishing Company. New York.

External links

• Statutes at Large, 1789–1875
• Senate Journal, First Forty-three Sessions of Congress
• House Journal, First Forty-three Sessions of Congress
• Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
• U.S. House of Representatives: House History
• U.S. Senate: Statistics and Lists

Notes and References

1. Book: Martis, Kenneth C.. The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress.