31st United States Congress

The 31st 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, 1849, to March 4, 1851, during the 16 months of the Zachary Taylor presidency and the first eight months of the administration of Millard Fillmore's. The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the 1840 United States census. The Senate had a Democratic majority, while there was a Democratic plurality in the House.

Major events

 * March 4, 1849: Zachary Taylor became President of the United States
 * June, 1849: Relations with France broke down as the French ambassador Guillaume-Tell de La Vallée Poussin engaged in "insulting and confrontational" behavior towards President Taylor, shortly after this a row erupted with France over reparations which France owed the United States. The president of France, Napoleon III, made this worse by making remarks that led to several members of Congress openly condemning him.
 * December 3–22, 1849: The election for the House speakership takes 63 ballots.
 * March 7, 1850: Senator Daniel Webster gave his "Seventh of March" speech in which he endorsed the Compromise of 1850 to prevent a possible civil war
 * May 22, 1850: Senate votes 42-11 in favor of ratifying the Clayton–Bulwer Treaty after the motion to do so was put forth by William R. King of Alabama. The results of the vote were celebrated in Britain.
 * July 9, 1850: President Taylor died and Vice President Millard Fillmore became President.

Major legislation

 * September 9, 1850: Compromise of 1850, sess. 1, chs. 48-51, -
 * September 18, 1850: Fugitive Slave Act, sess. 1, ch. 60,
 * September 20, 1850: "An Act to suppress the Slave Trade in the District of Columbia," sess. 1, ch. 63,
 * September 29, 1850: Donation Land Claim Act, sess. 1, ch. 76,

States admitted and territories organized

 * September 9, 1850 — As part of the Compromise of 1850:
 * Texas's borders were changed, ch. 49,
 * New Mexico Territory was organized, ch. 49,
 * California was admitted as a state, ch. 50,
 * Utah Territory was organized, ch. 51,

Senate
During this Congress, two Senate seats were added for the new state of California.

House of Representatives
During this Congress, two House seats were added for the new state of California.

Senate

 * President: Millard Fillmore (W), until July 9, 1850; vacant thereafter.
 * President pro tempore: David Atchison (D), until May 5, 1850
 * William R. King (D), from May 6, 1850

House of Representatives

 * Speaker: Howell Cobb (D), elected December 22, 1849, after 63 ballots
 * Democratic Caucus Chairman: James Thompson

Members
This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed by class, and representatives 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 ended with this Congress, facing re-election in 1850; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, facing re-election in 1852; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, facing re-election in 1854.

Alabama

 * 2. Benjamin Fitzpatrick (D), until November 30, 1849
 * Jeremiah Clemens (D), from November 30, 1849
 * 3. William R. King (D)

Arkansas

 * 2. William K. Sebastian (D)
 * 3. Solon Borland (D)

California

 * 1. John C. Frémont (D), from September 10, 1850 (newly admitted state)
 * 3. William M. Gwin (D), from September 10, 1850 (newly admitted state)

Connecticut

 * 1. Roger S. Baldwin (W)
 * 3. Truman Smith (W)

Delaware

 * 1. John Wales (W)
 * 2. Presley Spruance (W)

Florida

 * 1. David Levy Yulee (D)
 * 3. Jackson Morton (W)

Georgia

 * 2. John Macpherson Berrien (W)
 * 3. William C. Dawson (W)

Illinois

 * 2. Stephen A. Douglas (D)
 * 3. James Shields (D), until March 6, 1849
 * James Shields (D), from December 3, 1849

Indiana

 * 1. Jesse D. Bright (D)
 * 3. James Whitcomb (D)

Iowa

 * 2. George Wallace Jones (D)
 * 3. Augustus C. Dodge (D)

Kentucky

 * 2. Joseph R. Underwood (W)
 * 3. Henry Clay (W)

Louisiana

 * 2. Solomon W. Downs (D)
 * 3. Pierre Soulé (D)

Maine

 * 1. Hannibal Hamlin (D)
 * 2. James W. Bradbury (D)

Maryland

 * 1. Reverdy Johnson (W), until March 7, 1849
 * David Stewart (W), from December 6, 1849, until January 12, 1850
 * Thomas Pratt (W), from January 12, 1850
 * 3. James Pearce (W)

Massachusetts

 * 1. Daniel Webster (W), until July 22, 1850
 * Robert C. Winthrop (W), from July 30, 1850, until February 1, 1851
 * Robert Rantoul Jr. (D), from February 1, 1851
 * 2. John Davis (W)

Michigan

 * 1. Lewis Cass (D)
 * 2. Alpheus Felch (D)

Mississippi

 * 1. Jefferson Davis (D)
 * 2. Henry S. Foote (D)

Missouri

 * 1. Thomas H. Benton (D)
 * 3. David R. Atchison (D)

New Hampshire

 * 2. John P. Hale (FS)
 * 3. Moses Norris Jr. (D)

New Jersey

 * 1. William L. Dayton (W)
 * 2. Jacob W. Miller (W)

New York

 * 1. Daniel S. Dickinson (D)
 * 3. William H. Seward (W)

North Carolina

 * 2. Willie P. Mangum (W)
 * 3. George E. Badger (W)

Ohio

 * 1. Thomas Corwin (W), until July 20, 1850
 * Thomas Ewing (W), from July 20, 1850
 * 3. Salmon P. Chase (FS)

Pennsylvania

 * 1. Daniel Sturgeon (D)
 * 3. James Cooper (W)

Rhode Island

 * 1. Albert C. Greene (W)
 * 2. John H. Clarke (W)

South Carolina

 * 2. John C. Calhoun (D), until March 31, 1850
 * Franklin H. Elmore (D), from April 11, 1850, until May 29, 1850
 * Robert W. Barnwell (D), from June 4, 1850, until December 18, 1850
 * Robert Rhett (D), from December 18, 1850
 * 3. Andrew Butler (D)

Tennessee

 * 1. Hopkins L. Turney (D)
 * 2. John Bell (W)

Texas

 * 1. Thomas J. Rusk (D)
 * 2. Samuel Houston (D)

Vermont

 * 1. Samuel S. Phelps (W)
 * 3. William Upham (W)

Virginia

 * 1. James M. Mason (D)
 * 2. Robert M. T. Hunter (D)

Wisconsin

 * 1. Henry Dodge (D)
 * 3. Isaac P. Walker (D)

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

Alabama

 * Alabama's 1st congressional district. William J. Alston (W)
 * Alabama's 2nd congressional district. Henry W. Hilliard (W)
 * Alabama's 3rd congressional district. Sampson W. Harris (D)
 * Alabama's 4th congressional district. Samuel W. Inge (D)
 * Alabama's 5th congressional district. David Hubbard (D)
 * Alabama's 6th congressional district. Williamson R. W. Cobb (D)
 * Alabama's 7th congressional district. Franklin W. Bowdon (D)

Arkansas

 * Arkansas's at-large congressional district. Robert W. Johnson (D)

California
Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
 * California's at-large congressional district. Edward Gilbert (D), from September 11, 1850 (newly admitted state)
 * California's at-large congressional district. George W. Wright (I), from September 11, 1850 (newly admitted state)

Connecticut

 * Connecticut's 1st congressional district. Loren P. Waldo (D)
 * Connecticut's 2nd congressional district. Walter Booth (FS)
 * Connecticut's 3rd congressional district. Chauncey F. Cleveland (D)
 * Connecticut's 4th congressional district. Thomas B. Butler (W)

Delaware

 * Delaware's at-large congressional district. John W. Houston (W)

Florida

 * Florida's at-large congressional district. Edward C. Cabell (W)

Georgia

 * Georgia's 1st congressional district. Thomas Butler King (W), until March 3, 1850
 * Joseph W. Jackson (D), from March 4, 1850
 * Georgia's 2nd congressional district. Marshall J. Wellborn (D)
 * Georgia's 3rd congressional district. Allen F. Owen (W)
 * Georgia's 4th congressional district. Hugh A. Haralson (D)
 * Georgia's 5th congressional district. Thomas C. Hackett (D)
 * Georgia's 6th congressional district. Howell Cobb (D)
 * Georgia's 7th congressional district. Alexander H. Stephens (W)
 * Georgia's 8th congressional district. Robert A. Toombs (W)

Illinois

 * Illinois's 1st congressional district. William H. Bissell (D)
 * Illinois's 2nd congressional district. John A. McClernand (D)
 * Illinois's 3rd congressional district. Timothy R. Young (D)
 * Illinois's 4th congressional district. John Wentworth (D)
 * Illinois's 5th congressional district. William A. Richardson (D)
 * Illinois's 6th congressional district. Edward D. Baker (W)
 * Illinois's 7th congressional district. Thomas L. Harris (D)

Indiana

 * Indiana's 1st congressional district. Nathaniel Albertson (D)
 * Indiana's 2nd congressional district. Cyrus L. Dunham (D)
 * Indiana's 3rd congressional district. John L. Robinson (D)
 * Indiana's 4th congressional district. George W. Julian (FS)
 * Indiana's 5th congressional district. William J. Brown (D)
 * Indiana's 6th congressional district. Willis A. Gorman (D)
 * Indiana's 7th congressional district. Edward W. McGaughey (W)
 * Indiana's 8th congressional district. Joseph E. McDonald (D)
 * Indiana's 9th congressional district. Graham N. Fitch (D)
 * Indiana's 10th congressional district. Andrew J. Harlan (D)

Iowa

 * Iowa's 1st congressional district. William Thompson (D), until June 29, 1850
 * Daniel F. Miller (W), from December 20, 1850
 * IA's 2nd congressional district. Shepherd Leffler (D)

Kentucky

 * Kentucky's 1st congressional district. Linn Boyd (D)
 * Kentucky's 2nd congressional district. James L. Johnson (W)
 * Kentucky's 3rd congressional district. Finis E. McLean (W)
 * Kentucky's 4th congressional district. George A. Caldwell (D)
 * Kentucky's 5th congressional district. John B. Thompson (W)
 * Kentucky's 6th congressional district. Daniel Breck (W)
 * Kentucky's 7th congressional district. Humphrey Marshall (W)
 * Kentucky's 8th congressional district. Charles S. Morehead (W)
 * Kentucky's 9th congressional district. John C. Mason (D)
 * Kentucky's 10th congressional district. Richard H. Stanton (D)

Louisiana

 * Louisiana's 1st congressional district. Emile La Sére (D)
 * Louisiana's 2nd congressional district. Charles M. Conrad (W), until August 17, 1850
 * Henry A. Bullard (W), from December 5, 1850
 * Louisiana's 3rd congressional district. John H. Harmanson (D), until October 24, 1850
 * Alexander G. Penn (D), from December 30, 1850
 * Louisiana's 4th congressional district. Isaac E. Morse (D)

Maine

 * Maine's 1st congressional district. Elbridge Gerry (D)
 * Maine's 2nd congressional district. Nathaniel Littlefield (D)
 * Maine's 3rd congressional district. John Otis (W)
 * Maine's 4th congressional district. Rufus K. Goodenow (W)
 * Maine's 5th congressional district. Cullen Sawtelle (D)
 * Maine's 6th congressional district. Charles Stetson (D)
 * Maine's 7th congressional district. Thomas J. D. Fuller (D)

Maryland

 * Maryland's 1st congressional district. Richard Bowie (W)
 * Maryland's 2nd congressional district. William T. Hamilton (D)
 * Maryland's 3rd congressional district. Edward Hammond (D)
 * Maryland's 4th congressional district. Robert M. McLane (D)
 * Maryland's 5th congressional district. Alexander Evans (W)
 * Maryland's 6th congressional district. John B. Kerr (W)

Massachusetts

 * Massachusetts's 1st congressional district. Robert C. Winthrop (W), until July 30, 1850
 * Samuel Atkins Eliot (W), from August 22, 1850
 * Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district. Daniel P. King (W), until July 25, 1850
 * Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district. James H. Duncan (W)
 * Massachusetts's 4th congressional district. vacant
 * Massachusetts's 5th congressional district. Charles Allen (FS)
 * Massachusetts's 6th congressional district. George Ashmun (W)
 * Massachusetts's 7th congressional district. Julius Rockwell (W)
 * Massachusetts's 8th congressional district. Horace Mann (W)
 * Massachusetts's 9th congressional district. Orin Fowler (W)
 * Massachusetts's 10th congressional district. Joseph Grinnell (W)

Michigan

 * Michigan's 1st congressional district. Alexander W. Buel (D)
 * Michigan's 2nd congressional district. William Sprague (W)
 * Michigan's 3rd congressional district. Kinsley S. Bingham (D)

Mississippi

 * Mississippi's 1st congressional district. Jacob Thompson (D)
 * Mississippi's 2nd congressional district. Winfield S. Featherston (D)
 * Mississippi's 3rd congressional district. William McWillie (D)
 * Mississippi's 4th congressional district. Albert G. Brown (D)

Missouri

 * Missouri's 1st congressional district. James B. Bowlin (D)
 * Missouri's 2nd congressional district. William V. Bay (D)
 * Missouri's 3rd congressional district. James S. Green (D)
 * Missouri's 4th congressional district. Willard P. Hall (D)
 * Missouri's 5th congressional district. John S. Phelps (D)

New Hampshire

 * New Hampshire's 1st congressional district. Amos Tuck (FS)
 * New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district. Charles H. Peaslee (D)
 * New Hampshire's 3rd congressional district. James Wilson (W), until September 9, 1850
 * George W. Morrison (D), from October 8, 1850
 * New Hampshire's 4th congressional district. Harry Hibbard (D)

New Jersey

 * New Jersey's 1st congressional district. Andrew K. Hay (W)
 * New Jersey's 2nd congressional district. William A. Newell (W)
 * New Jersey's 3rd congressional district. Isaac Wildrick (D)
 * New Jersey's 4th congressional district. John Van Dyke (W)
 * New Jersey's 5th congressional district. James G. King (W)

New York

 * New York's 1st congressional district. John A. King (W)
 * New York's 2nd congressional district. David A. Bokee (W)
 * New York's 3rd congressional district. J. Phillips Phoenix (W)
 * New York's 4th congressional district. Walter Underhill (W)
 * New York's 5th congressional district. George Briggs (W)
 * New York's 6th congressional district. James Brooks (W)
 * New York's 7th congressional district. William Nelson (W)
 * New York's 8th congressional district. Ransom Halloway (W)
 * New York's 9th congressional district. Thomas McKissock (W)
 * New York's 10th congressional district. Herman D. Gould (W)
 * New York's 11th congressional district. Peter H. Silvester (W)
 * New York's 12th congressional district. Gideon Reynolds (W)
 * New York's 13th congressional district. John L. Schoolcraft (W)
 * New York's 14th congressional district. George R. Andrews (W)
 * New York's 15th congressional district. John R. Thurman (W)
 * New York's 16th congressional district. Hugh White (W)
 * New York's 17th congressional district. Henry P. Alexander (W)
 * New York's 18th congressional district. Preston King (FS)
 * New York's 19th congressional district. Charles E. Clarke (W)
 * New York's 20th congressional district. Orsamus B. Matteson (W)
 * New York's 21st congressional district. Hiram Walden (D)
 * New York's 22nd congressional district. Henry Bennett (W)
 * New York's 23rd congressional district. William Duer (W)
 * New York's 24th congressional district. Daniel Gott (W)
 * New York's 25th congressional district. Harmon S. Conger (W)
 * New York's 26th congressional district. William T. Jackson (W)
 * New York's 27th congressional district. William A. Sackett (W)
 * New York's 28th congressional district. Abraham M. Schermerhorn (W)
 * New York's 29th congressional district. Robert L. Rose (W)
 * New York's 30th congressional district. David Rumsey Jr. (W)
 * New York's 31st congressional district. Elijah Risley (W)
 * New York's 32nd congressional district. Elbridge G. Spaulding (W)
 * New York's 33rd congressional district. Harvey Putnam (W)
 * New York's 34th congressional district. Lorenzo Burrows (W)

North Carolina

 * North Carolina's 1st congressional district. Thomas L. Clingman (W)
 * North Carolina's 2nd congressional district. Joseph P. Caldwell (W)
 * North Carolina's 3rd congressional district. Edmund Deberry (W)
 * North Carolina's 4th congressional district. Augustine H. Shepperd (W)
 * North Carolina's 5th congressional district. Abraham W. Venable (D)
 * North Carolina's 6th congressional district. John R. J. Daniel (D)
 * North Carolina's 7th congressional district. William S. Ashe (D)
 * North Carolina's 8th congressional district. Edward Stanly (W)
 * North Carolina's 9th congressional district. David Outlaw (W)

Ohio

 * Ohio's 1st congressional district. David T. Disney (D)
 * Ohio's 2nd congressional district. Lewis D. Campbell (W)
 * Ohio's 3rd congressional district. Robert C. Schenck (W)
 * Ohio's 4th congressional district. Moses B. Corwin (W)
 * Ohio's 5th congressional district. Emery D. Potter (D)
 * Ohio's 6th congressional district. Rodolphus Dickinson (D), until March 20, 1849
 * Amos E. Wood (D), from December 3, 1849, until November 19, 1850
 * John Bell (W), from January 7, 1851
 * Ohio's 7th congressional district. Jonathan D. Morris (D)
 * Ohio's 8th congressional district. John L. Taylor (W)
 * Ohio's 9th congressional district. Edson B. Olds (D)
 * Ohio's 10th congressional district. Charles Sweetser (D)
 * Ohio's 11th congressional district. John K. Miller (D)
 * Ohio's 12th congressional district. Samuel F. Vinton (W)
 * Ohio's 13th congressional district. William A. Whittlesey (D)
 * Ohio's 14th congressional district. Nathan Evans (W)
 * Ohio's 15th congressional district. William F. Hunter (W)
 * Ohio's 16th congressional district. Moses Hoagland (D)
 * Ohio's 17th congressional district. Joseph Cable (D)
 * Ohio's 18th congressional district. David K. Cartter (D)
 * Ohio's 19th congressional district. John Crowell (W)
 * Ohio's 20th congressional district. Joshua R. Giddings (FS)
 * Ohio's 21st congressional district. Joseph M. Root (FS)

Pennsylvania

 * Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district. Lewis C. Levin (A)
 * Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district. Joseph R. Chandler (W)
 * Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district. Henry D. Moore (W)
 * Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district. John Robbins Jr. (D)
 * Pennsylvania's 5th congressional district. John Freedley (W)
 * Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district. Thomas Ross (D)
 * Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district. Jesse C. Dickey (W)
 * Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district. Thaddeus Stevens (W)
 * Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district. William Strong (D)
 * Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district. Milo M. Dimmick (D)
 * Pennsylvania's 11th congressional district. Chester P. Butler (W), until October 5, 1850
 * John Brisbin (D), from November 13, 1850
 * Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district. David Wilmot (D)
 * Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district. Joseph Casey (W)
 * Pennsylvania's 14th congressional district. Charles W. Pitman (W)
 * Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district. Henry Nes (W), until September 10, 1850
 * Joel B. Danner (D), from December 2, 1850
 * Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district. James X. McLanahan (D)
 * Pennsylvania's 17th congressional district. Samuel Calvin (W)
 * Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district. Andrew J. Ogle (W)
 * Pennsylvania's 19th congressional district. Job Mann (D)
 * Pennsylvania's 20th congressional district. Robert R. Reed (W)
 * Pennsylvania's 21st congressional district. Moses Hampton (W)
 * Pennsylvania's 22nd congressional district. John W. Howe (FS)
 * Pennsylvania's 23rd congressional district. James Thompson (D)
 * Pennsylvania's 24th congressional district. Alfred Gilmore (D)

Rhode Island

 * Rhode Island's 1st congressional district. George G. King (W)
 * Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district. Nathan F. Dixon Jr. (W)

South Carolina

 * South Carolina's 1st congressional district. Daniel Wallace (D)
 * South Carolina's 2nd congressional district. James L. Orr (D)
 * South Carolina's 3rd congressional district. Joseph A. Woodward (D)
 * South Carolina's 4th congressional district. John McQueen (D)
 * South Carolina's 5th congressional district. Armistead Burt (D)
 * South Carolina's 6th congressional district. Isaac E. Holmes (D)
 * South Carolina's 7th congressional district. William F. Colcock (D)

Tennessee

 * Tennessee's 1st congressional district. Andrew Johnson (D)
 * Tennessee's 2nd congressional district. Albert G. Watkins (W)
 * Tennessee's 3rd congressional district. Josiah M. Anderson (W)
 * Tennessee's 4th congressional district. John H. Savage (D)
 * Tennessee's 5th congressional district. George W. Jones (D)
 * Tennessee's 6th congressional district. James H. Thomas (D)
 * Tennessee's 7th congressional district. Meredith P. Gentry (W)
 * Tennessee's 8th congressional district. Andrew Ewing (D)
 * Tennessee's 9th congressional district. Isham G. Harris (D)
 * Tennessee's 10th congressional district. Frederick P. Stanton (D)
 * Tennessee's 11th congressional district. Christopher H. Williams (W)

Texas

 * Texas's 1st congressional district. David S. Kaufman (D), until January 31, 1851
 * Texas's 2nd congressional district. Volney E. Howard (D)

Vermont

 * Vermont's 1st congressional district. William Henry (W)
 * Vermont's 2nd congressional district. William Hebard (W)
 * Vermont's 3rd congressional district. George P. Marsh (W), until May 29, 1849
 * James Meacham (W), from December 3, 1849
 * Vermont's 4th congressional district. Lucius B. Peck (D)

Virginia

 * Virginia's 1st congressional district. John S. Millson (D)
 * Virginia's 2nd congressional district. Richard K. Meade (D)
 * Virginia's 3rd congressional district. Thomas H. Averett (D)
 * Virginia's 4th congressional district. Thomas S. Bocock (D)
 * Virginia's 5th congressional district. Paulus Powell (D)
 * Virginia's 6th congressional district. James A. Seddon (D)
 * Virginia's 7th congressional district. Thomas H. Bayly (D)
 * Virginia's 8th congressional district. Alexander Holladay (D)
 * Virginia's 9th congressional district. Jeremiah Morton (W)
 * Virginia's 10th congressional district. Richard Parker (D)
 * Virginia's 11th congressional district. James McDowell (D)
 * Virginia's 12th congressional district. Henry A. Edmundson (D)
 * Virginia's 13th congressional district. LaFayette McMullen (D)
 * Virginia's 14th congressional district. James M. H. Beale (D)
 * Virginia's 15th congressional district. Alexander Newman (D), until September 8, 1849
 * Thomas Haymond (W), from November 8, 1849

Wisconsin

 * Wisconsin's 1st congressional district. Charles Durkee (FS)
 * Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district. Orasmus Cole (W)
 * Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district. James D. Doty (D)

Non-voting members

 * Minnesota Territory's at-large congressional district. Henry H. Sibley, from July 7, 1849
 * Oregon Territory's at-large congressional district. Samuel Thurston (D)

31 us house membership.png]]

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

Senate

 * Replacements: 5
 * Democrats (D): no net change
 * Whigs (W): no net change
 * Deaths: 1
 * Resignations: 3
 * Seats from newly admitted states: 2
 * Interim appointments: 4
 * Total seats with changes: 8


 * Illinois (3)
 * | James Shields (D)
 * Senate voided election March 6, 1849, as Sen. Shields was determined not to have been a US citizen for the number of years required by the Constitution. Incumbent was re-elected October 27, 1849, having by then qualified.
 * | James Shields (D)
 * Seated December 3, 1849
 * Seated December 3, 1849


 * Maryland (1)
 * | Reverdy Johnson (W)
 * Resigned March 7, 1849, having been appointed United States Attorney General
 * | David Stewart (W)
 * Appointed December 6, 1849
 * Appointed December 6, 1849


 * Alabama (2)
 * | Benjamin Fitzpatrick (D)
 * Sen. Dixon Lewis successor elected November 30, 1849
 * | Jeremiah Clemens (D)
 * Elected November 30, 1849
 * Elected November 30, 1849


 * Maryland (1)
 * | David Stewart (W)
 * Successor elected January 12, 1850
 * | Thomas Pratt (W)
 * Elected January 12, 1850
 * Elected January 12, 1850


 * South Carolina (2)
 * | John C. Calhoun (D)
 * Died March 31, 1850
 * | Franklin H. Elmore (D)
 * Appointed April 11, 1850
 * Appointed April 11, 1850


 * South Carolina (2)
 * | Franklin H. Elmore (D)
 * Died May 29, 1850
 * | Robert W. Barnwell (D)
 * Appointed June 4, 1850
 * Appointed June 4, 1850


 * Ohio (1)
 * | Thomas Corwin (W)
 * Resigned July 20, 1850, after being appointed United States Secretary of the Treasury
 * | Thomas Ewing (W)
 * Appointed July 20, 1850
 * Appointed July 20, 1850


 * Massachusetts (1)
 * | Daniel Webster (W)
 * Resigned July 22, 1850, after being appointed United States Secretary of State again.
 * | Robert C. Winthrop (W)
 * Appointed July 30, 1850
 * Appointed July 30, 1850


 * California (1)
 * New state
 * California admitted to the Union September 9, 1850. The first Senator was elected September 10, 1850.
 * | John C. Frémont (D)
 * Elected September 10, 1850
 * Elected September 10, 1850


 * California (3)
 * New state
 * California admitted to the Union September 9, 1850. The first Senator was elected September 10, 1850.
 * | William M. Gwin (D)
 * Elected September 10, 1850
 * Elected September 10, 1850


 * South Carolina (2)
 * | Robert W. Barnwell (D)
 * Successor elected December 18, 1850
 * | Robert Rhett (D)
 * Elected December 18, 1850
 * Elected December 18, 1850


 * Massachusetts (1)
 * | Robert C. Winthrop (W)
 * Successor elected February 1, 1851
 * | Robert Rantoul Jr. (D)
 * Elected February 1, 1851
 * }
 * }

House of Representatives

 * Replacements: 11
 * Democrats (D): 2 seat net gain
 * Whigs (W): 2 seat net loss
 * Deaths: 8
 * Resignations: 5
 * Contested election:1
 * Seats from newly admitted states: 2
 * Total seats with changes: 16


 * Minnesota Territory's at-large congressional district
 * Vacant
 * style="font-size:80%" | Seat remained vacant after territory became organized at end of previous congress
 * Henry H. Sibley
 * Seated July 7, 1849
 * Vermont's 3rd congressional district
 * | George Perkins Marsh (W)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Resigned some time in 1849
 * | James Meacham (W)
 * Seated December 3, 1849
 * Ohio's 6th congressional district
 * | Rodolphus Dickinson (D)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Died March 20, 1849
 * | Amos E. Wood (D)
 * Seated December 3, 1849
 * Virginia's 15th congressional district
 * | Alexander Newman (D)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Died September 8, 1849
 * | Thomas Haymond (W)
 * Seated November 8, 1849
 * Georgia's 1st congressional district
 * | Thomas B. King (W)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Resigned March 3, 1850
 * | Joseph W. Jackson (D)
 * Seated March 4, 1850
 * Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district
 * | Daniel P. King (W)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Died July 25, 1850
 * Vacant
 * Not filled this term
 * Iowa's 1st congressional district
 * | William Thompson (D)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Seat declared vacant June 29, 1850, after contested election. House ruled neither candidate entitled to seat and forced special election
 * | Daniel F. Miller (W)
 * Seated December 20, 1850
 * Massachusetts's 1st congressional district
 * | Robert C. Winthrop (W)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Resigned July 30, 1850, after being appointed to the US Senate
 * | Samuel A. Eliot (W)
 * Seated August 22, 1850
 * Louisiana's 2nd congressional district
 * | Charles M. Conrad (W)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Resigned August 17, 1850, after being appointed United States Secretary of War
 * | Henry A. Bullard (W)
 * Seated December 5, 1850
 * New Hampshire's 3rd congressional district
 * | James Wilson (W)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Resigned September 9, 1850
 * | George W. Morrison (D)
 * Seated October 8, 1850
 * California's at-large congressional district
 * colspan=2 style="font-size:80%" | California admitted into the Union September 9, 1850, and seat remained vacant until September 11, 1850
 * | Edward Gilbert (D)
 * Seated September 11, 1850
 * California's at-large congressional district
 * colspan=2 style="font-size:80%" | California admitted into the Union September 9, 1850, and seat remained vacant until September 11, 1850
 * | George W. Wright (I)
 * Seated September 11, 1850
 * Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district
 * | Henry Nes (W)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Died September 10, 1850
 * | Joel B. Danner (D)
 * Seated December 2, 1850
 * Pennsylvania's 11th congressional district
 * | Chester P. Butler (W)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Died October 5, 1850
 * | John Brisbin (D)
 * Seated November 13, 1850
 * Louisiana's 3rd congressional district
 * | John H. Harmanson (D)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Died October 24, 1850
 * | Alexander G. Penn (D)
 * Seated December 30, 1850
 * Ohio's 6th congressional district
 * | Amos E. Wood (D)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Died November 19, 1850
 * | John Bell (W)
 * Seated January 7, 1851
 * Texas's 1st congressional district
 * | David S. Kaufman (D)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Died January 31, 1851
 * Vacant
 * Not filled this term
 * }
 * | John H. Harmanson (D)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Died October 24, 1850
 * | Alexander G. Penn (D)
 * Seated December 30, 1850
 * Ohio's 6th congressional district
 * | Amos E. Wood (D)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Died November 19, 1850
 * | John Bell (W)
 * Seated January 7, 1851
 * Texas's 1st congressional district
 * | David S. Kaufman (D)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Died January 31, 1851
 * Vacant
 * Not filled this term
 * }
 * Not filled this term
 * }

Committees
Lists of committees and their party leaders.

Senate

 * Agriculture (Chairman: Daniel Sturgeon)
 * Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate (Chairman: Augustus Dodge)
 * California's Admission to the Union (Select)
 * Claims (Chairman: Moses Norris Jr.)
 * Commerce (Chairman: Clement C. Clay)
 * Disorder in the Senate of April 17, 1850 (Select)
 * Distributing Public Revenue Among the States (Select)
 * District of Columbia (Chairman: James M. Mason)
 * Eligibility of James Shields (Special)
 * Finance (Chairman: Daniel S. Dickinson then James Pearce)
 * Foreign Relations (Chairman: William R. King then Henry S. Foote)
 * French Spoilations (Select) (Chairman: Truman Smith)
 * Indian Affairs (Chairman: David R. Atchison)
 * Judiciary (Chairman: Andrew P. Butler)
 * Manufactures (Chairman: William K. Sebastian)
 * Mexican Boundary Commission (Select)
 * Military Affairs (Chairman: Jefferson Davis)
 * Militia (Chairman: Sam Houston)
 * Naval Affairs (Chairman: David Levy Yulee)
 * Ordnance and War Ships (Select)
 * Patents and the Patent Office (Chairman: David S. Reid)
 * Pensions (Chairman: George Wallace Jones)
 * Post Office and Post Roads (Chairman: Thomas J. Rusk)
 * Printing (Chairman: Solon Borland)
 * Private Land Claims (Chairman: Solomon W. Downs)
 * Public Buildings and Grounds (Chairman: Robert M.T. Hunter)
 * Public Lands (Chairman: Alpheus Felch)
 * Retrenchment (Chairman: James W. Bradbury)
 * Revolutionary Claims (Chairman: Isaac P. Walker)
 * Roads and Canals (Chairman: Jesse D. Bright)
 * Seventh Census (Select)
 * Settlement of the Slavery Question (Select)
 * Tariff Regulation (Select)
 * Territories (Chairman: Stephen A. Douglas)
 * Whole

House of Representatives

 * Accounts (Chairman: Daniel P. King)
 * Agriculture (Chairman: Nathaniel S. Littlefield)
 * Bounty Land Act of 1850 (Select)
 * Claims (Chairman: John Reeves Jones Daniel)
 * Commerce (Chairman: Robert M. McLane)
 * District of Columbia (Chairman: Albert G. Brown)
 * Elections (Chairman: William Strong)
 * Engraving (Chairman: Edward Hammond)
 * Expenditures in the Navy Department (Chairman: Alexander Holladay)
 * Expenditures in the Post Office Department (Chairman: William Thompson)
 * Expenditures in the State Department (Chairman: Kingsley S. Bingham)
 * Expenditures in the Treasury Department (Chairman: George A. Caldwell)
 * Expenditures in the War Department (Chairman: Milo M. Dimmick)
 * Expenditures on Public Buildings (Chairman: James M. H. Beale)
 * Foreign Affairs (Chairman: John A. McClernand)
 * Indian Affairs (Chairman: Robert W. Johnson)
 * Invalid Pensions (Chairman: Shepherd Leffler)
 * Judiciary (Chairman: James Thompson)
 * Manufactures (Chairman: Lucius B. Peck)
 * Mileage (Chairman: Graham N. Fitch)
 * Military Affairs (Chairman: Armistead Burt)
 * Militia (Chairman: Charles H. Peaslee)
 * Naval Affairs (Chairman: Frederick P. Stanton)
 * Patents (Chairman: Hiram Walden)
 * Post Office and Post Roads (Chairman: Emery D. Potter)
 * Private Land Claims (Chairman: Isaac E. Morse)
 * Public Buildings and Grounds (Chairman: Franklin W. Bowdon)
 * Public Expenditures (Chairman: Andrew Johnson)
 * Public Lands (Chairman: James B. Bowlin)
 * Revisal and Unfinished Business (Chairman: Williamson R. W. Cobb)
 * Revolutionary Claims (Chairman: Cullen Sawtelle)
 * Revolutionary Pensions (Chairman: Loren P. Waldo)
 * Roads and Canals (Chairman: John L. Robinson)
 * Rules (Chairman: David S. Kaufman)
 * Standards of Official Conduct
 * Territories (Chairman: Linn Boyd)
 * Ways and Means (Chairman: Thomas H. Bayly)
 * Whole

Joint committees

 * Enrolled Bills (Chairman: Sen. Thomas J. Rusk then Sen. George Badger)
 * The Library (Chairman: N/A)
 * The Printing (Chairman: N/A)

Caucuses

 * Democratic (House)
 * Democratic (Senate)

Employees

 * Librarian of Congress: John Silva Meehan

Senate

 * Chaplain: Henry Slicer (Methodist), until January 9, 1850
 * Clement M. Butler (Episcopalian), elected January 9, 1850
 * Secretary: Asbury Dickins
 * Sergeant at Arms: Robert Beale

House of Representatives

 * Chaplain: Ralph Gurley (Presbyterian)
 * Clerk: Thomas J. Campbell, died April 13, 1850
 * Richard M. Young, elected April 17, 1850
 * Doorkeeper: Robert E. Horner
 * Postmaster: John M. Johnson
 * Reading Clerks:
 * Sergeant at Arms: Nathan Sargent, until January 15, 1850
 * Adam J. Glossbrenner, from January 15, 1850