The Twenty-eighth 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, 1843 to March 4, 1845, during the third and fourth years of John Tyler's presidency. The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the Sixth Census of the United States in 1840. The Senate had a Whig majority, and the House had a Democratic majority.
May 24, 1844: The first electrical telegram was sent by Samuel F. B. Morse from the U.S. Capitol to the B&O Railroad "outer depot" in Baltimore, Maryland, saying "What hath God wrought".December 4, 1844: U.S. presidential election, 1844: James K. Polk defeated Henry ClayJanuary 23, 1845: Presidential Election Day Act, ch. 1, 5 Stat. 721March 3, 1845: For the first time, Congress overrode a Presidential veto. A bill, relating to revenue cutters and steamers, was thereby enacted as the last Act of the 28th Congress: session II, ch. 78, 5 Stat. 795.July 3, 1844: Treaty of Wanghia signed (first diplomatic agreement between China and the United States)March 1, 1845: Resolution for the Annexation of Texas, 5 Stat. 797 (Admitted in the next Congress, December 29, 1845.)March 3, 1845: Florida admitted, 5 Stat. 742. The statute also allowed for the provisional admission of Iowa, pending a referendum in that state. (Admitted in the next Congress, December 28, 1846.)During this congress, two Senate seats were added for the new state of Florida.
Following the 1840 United States Census, Congress reapportioned the House to include 223 seats (5 Stat. 491). During this congress, one House seat was added for the new state of Florida (5 Stat. 743).
President: VacantPresident pro tempore: Willie P. Mangum (W)Speaker: John W. Jones (D)This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed in order of seniority, and Representatives are listed by district.
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 ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1844; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1846; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1848.
Skip to House of Representatives, belowRepresentatives are listed by their district numbers.
The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.
replacements: 7Democrats (D): no net changeWhigs (W): 1 seat net lossLaw and Order (LO): 1 seat net gaindeaths: 3resignations: 5interim appointments: 1Total seats with changes: 10replacements: 14Democrats (D): 6 seat net lossWhigs (W): 6 seat net gaindeaths: 7resignations: 7contested election: 0Total seats with changes: 16Lists of committees and their party leaders.
AgricultureAudit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the SenateClaimsCommerceCredentials of the Honorable John M. Niles (Select)Distributing Public Revenue Among the States (Select)District of ColumbiaFinanceForeign RelationsIndian AffairsJudiciaryManufacturesMilitary AffairsMilitiaNaval AffairsOrdnance and War Ships (Select)Patents and the Patent OfficePensionsPost Office and Post RoadsPrintingPrivate Land ClaimsPublic Buildings and GroundsPublic LandsRetrenchmentRevolutionary ClaimsRoads and CanalsTariff Regulation (Select)TerritoriesViolation of the Injunction of Secrecy (Select)WholeAccountsAgricultureArmy Pay (Select)Banks of the District of Columbia (Select)ClaimsCommerceDistrict of ColumbiaElectionsEngravingExpenditures in the Navy DepartmentExpenditures in the Post Office DepartmentExpenditures in the State DepartmentExpenditures in the Treasury DepartmentExpenditures in the War DepartmentExpenditures on Public BuildingsForeign AffairsIndian AffairsInvalid PensionsManufacturesMileageMilitary AffairsMilitiaNaval AffairsPatentsPost Office and Post RoadsPublic Buildings and GroundsPublic ExpendituresPublic LandsRevisal and Unfinished BusinessRevolutionary ClaimsRoads and CanalsRules (Select)Standards of Official ConductTerritoriesWays and MeansWholeEnrolled BillsSmithsonian BequestLibrarian of Congress: John Silva MeehanChaplain: Septimus Tustin (Presbyterian)Secretary: Asbury DickensSergeant at Arms: Edward DyerChaplain: Isaac S. Tinsley (Baptist)William M. Daily (Methodist), from December 4, 1844Clerk: Caleb J. McNulty, until January 18, 1845Benjamin B. French, from January 18, 1845Doorkeeper: Jesse E. DowPostmaster: John M. JohnsonSergeant at Arms: Newton Lane 
