This prompted Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina to follow. There was a Democratic majority in the Senate and a Republican majority in the House of Representatives, and every state in the Union was effectively represented.īut once South Carolina issued its ordinance of secession on December 20, 1860, a surge of southern legislators began withdrawing and retiring from Congress.īy the time the 37th Congress convened in March of 1861, six states-Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas-had already joined South Carolina and left the Union. On the eve of the Civil War in 1860, the 36th Congress consisted of 66 senators and 234 representatives. This is how the legislative branch of the Federal Government always functions, right? Well, not always. Representatives and senators from across the country are again descending upon the Capitol, ready to commence debates, proceedings, and hearings. Capitol under construction, 1860 (National Archives Identifier 530494)Īs a new year begins, the 112th Congress reconvenes for a second session of legislative activity. Today’s post comes from Gregory Marose, an intern in the National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications.
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