17th United States Congress

Updated on Nov 19, 2024

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Senate Pres. pro tem: John Gaillard (DR) Senate Majority: Democratic-Republican		House Speaker: Philip P. Barbour (DR) House Majority: Democratic-Republican

Senate President Daniel D. Tompkins (DR) Members: 48 Senators187 Representatives3 Non-voting members

The Seventeenth 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. While its term was officially March 4, 1821, to March 4, 1823, during the fifth and sixth years of James Monroe's presidency, its first session began on December 3, 1821, ending on May 8, 1822, and its second session began on December 2, 1822, to March 3, 1823. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the third Census of the United States in 1810. Both chambers had a Democratic-Republican majority.

Major events

March 5, 1821: Second inauguration of James Monroe as President of the United States.

States admitted and Territories organized

July 10, 1821: The United States took possession of its newly-bought Florida Territory from Spain.

August 10, 1821: Missouri was admitted as the 24th U.S. state

March 30, 1822: Florida Territory was formed from lands ceded by Spain

Party summary

The count below identifies party affiliations at the beginning of the first session of this congress. Changes resulting from subsequent replacements are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section.

Senate

During this congress, two Senate seats were added for the new state of Missouri.

House of Representatives

For the beginning of this congress, six seats from Massachusetts were reapportioned to the new state of Maine (one seat had already moved during the previous congress), 3 Stat. 555. During this congress, one House seat was added for the new state of Missouri, 3 Stat. 547.

Senate

President: Daniel D. Tompkins (DR)

President pro tempore: John Gaillard (DR), elected December 3, 1821

House of Representatives

Speaker: Philip P. Barbour (DR), elected December 4, 1821

Members

This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed by class, and Representatives are listed by district.

Skip to House of Representatives, below

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 with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1826; Class 2 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1822; and Class 3 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1824.