34th United States Congress

The 34th 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, 1855, to March 4, 1857, during the last two years of Franklin Pierce's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1850 United States census. The Whig Party, one of the two major parties of the era, had largely collapsed, although many former Whigs ran as Republicans or as members of the "Opposition Party." The Senate had a Democratic majority, and the House was controlled by a coalition of Representatives led by Nathaniel P. Banks, a member of the American Party.

Major events

 * March 30, 1855: Elections were held for the first Kansas Territory legislature. Missourians crossed the border in large numbers to elect a pro-slavery body.
 * July 2, 1855: The Kansas territorial legislature convened in Pawnee and began enacting proslavery laws.
 * November 21, 1855: Large-scale Bleeding Kansas violence began with events leading to the Wakarusa War between antislavery and proslavery forces.
 * December 3, 1855 – February 2, 1856: The election for Speaker of the House requires 133 ballots, the longest and most contentious speaker election in House history.
 * January 24, 1856: President Franklin Pierce declared the new Free-State Topeka government in Bleeding Kansas to be in rebellion.
 * January 26, 1856: First Battle of Seattle: Marines from the USS Decatur (1839) drove off Indian attackers after an all-day battle with settlers.
 * February, 1856: Tintic War broke out in Utah.
 * February 18, 1856: The American Party (Know-Nothings) nominated their first Presidential candidate, former President Millard Fillmore.
 * May 21, 1856: Lawrence, Kansas, captured and burned by pro-slavery forces (the "Sacking of Lawrence").
 * May 22, 1856: Representative Preston Brooks of South Carolina attacking Senator Charles Sumner, beating him with a cane in the hall of the Senate, for a speech Sumner had made attacking Southerners who sympathized with the pro-slavery violence in Kansas ("Bleeding Kansas"). Sumner was unable to return to duty for 3 years while he recovered; Brooks became a hero across the South.
 * May 24, 1856: Pottawatomie massacre
 * June 2, 1856: Battle of Black Jack
 * August 30, 1856: Battle of Osawatomie
 * November 4, 1856: 1856 United States presidential election: Democrat James Buchanan defeated former President Millard Fillmore, representing a coalition of "Know-Nothings" and Whigs, and John C. Frémont of the fledgling Republican Party.
 * November 17, 1856: On the Sonoita River in present-day southern Arizona, the United States Army established Fort Buchanan to help control new land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase.
 * January 9, 1857: The 7.9 Mw Fort Tejon earthquake affects Central and Southern California with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent).

Major legislation

 * August 18, 1856: Guano Islands Act, ch. 164,

Treaties

 * January 26, 1855: Point No Point Treaty signed in the Washington Territory. (Ratified March 8, 1859. Proclaimed April 29, 1859)
 * July 1, 1855: Quinault Treaty signed, Quinault and Quileute ceded their land to the United States. (Ratified March 8, 1859. Proclaimed April 11, 1859)

Party summary
The count below identifies party affiliations at the beginning of this Congress. Changes resulting from subsequent replacements are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section.

During the elections for this Congress, opponents to the Democrats used the Whig party label inconsistently and not at all in some states. Hence in this Congress, and in accordance with the practice of the Senate and House, representatives not associated with the Democratic Party or the American Party are labeled as "Opposition." This is the first example in U.S. history of a form of coalition government in either house of Congress.

House of Representatives
The parties that opposed the Democrats joined a coalition and formed the majority. The Know Nothings caucused with the Opposition coalition.

Senate

 * President: Vacant
 * President pro tempore: Jesse D. Bright (D), until June 9, 1856
 * Charles E. Stuart (D, June 9, 1856 – June 10, 1856
 * Jesse D. Bright (D), June 11, 1856 – January 6, 1857
 * James M. Mason (D), from January 6, 1857

House of Representatives

 * Speaker: Nathaniel P. Banks (A), elected February 2, 1856, on the 133rd ballot
 * Democratic Caucus Chairman: George Washington Jones

Members
This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed in order of seniority, 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 ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1856; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1858; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1860.
 * Skip to House of Representatives, below

Alabama

 * 2. Clement C. Clay Jr. (D)
 * 3. Benjamin Fitzpatrick (D), from November 26, 1855

Arkansas

 * 2. William K. Sebastian (D)
 * 3. Robert W. Johnson (D)

California

 * 1. John B. Weller (D)
 * 3. William M. Gwin (D), from January 13, 1857

Connecticut

 * 1. Isaac Toucey (D)
 * 3. Lafayette S. Foster (R)

Delaware

 * 1. James A. Bayard Jr. (D)
 * 2. John M. Clayton (W), until November 9, 1856
 * Joseph P. Comegys (W), November 19, 1856 – January 14, 1857
 * Martin W. Bates (D), from January 14, 1857

Florida

 * 1. Stephen Mallory (D)
 * 3. David Levy Yulee (D)

Georgia

 * 2. Robert Toombs (D)
 * 3. Alfred Iverson Sr. (D)

Illinois

 * 2. Stephen A. Douglas (D)
 * 3. Lyman Trumbull (D)

Indiana

 * 1. Jesse D. Bright (D)
 * 3. Graham N. Fitch (D), from February 4, 1857

Iowa

 * 2. George Wallace Jones (D)
 * 3. James Harlan (FS), until January 5, 1857
 * James Harlan (R), from January 29, 1857

Kentucky

 * 2. John B. Thompson (A)
 * 3. John J. Crittenden (A)

Louisiana

 * 2. Judah P. Benjamin (W)
 * 3. John Slidell (D)

Maine

 * 1. Hannibal Hamlin (D) to (R) on June 12, 1856, until January 7, 1857
 * Amos Nourse (R), from January 16, 1857
 * 2. William P. Fessenden (W)

Maryland

 * 3. James A. Pearce (W)
 * 1. Thomas Pratt (W)

Massachusetts

 * 1. Charles Sumner (FS)
 * 2. Henry Wilson (R)

Michigan

 * 1. Lewis Cass (D)
 * 2. Charles E. Stuart (D)

Mississippi

 * 1. Stephen Adams (D)
 * 2. Albert G. Brown (D)

Missouri

 * 1. Henry S. Geyer (W)
 * 3. James S. Green (D), from January 12, 1857

New Hampshire

 * 2. John P. Hale (R), from July 30, 1855
 * 3. James Bell (R), from July 30, 1855

New Jersey

 * 1. John R. Thomson (D)
 * 2. William Wright (D)

New York

 * 3. William H. Seward (R)
 * 1. Hamilton Fish (W)

North Carolina

 * 2. David S. Reid (D)
 * 3. Asa Biggs (D)

Ohio

 * 1. Benjamin Wade (R)
 * 3. George E. Pugh (D)

Pennsylvania

 * 1. Richard Brodhead (D)
 * 3. William Bigler (D), from January 14, 1856

Rhode Island

 * 1. Charles T. James (D)
 * 2. Philip Allen (D)

South Carolina

 * 3. Andrew Butler (D)
 * 2. Josiah J. Evans (D)

Tennessee

 * 2. John Bell (W)
 * 1. James C. Jones (W)

Texas

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

Vermont

 * 1. Solomon Foot (R)
 * 3. Jacob Collamer (R)

Virginia

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

Wisconsin

 * 1. Henry Dodge (D)
 * 3. Charles Durkee (R)



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

Alabama

 * Alabama's 1st congressional district. Percy Walker (A)
 * Alabama's 2nd congressional district. Eli S. Shorter (D)
 * Alabama's 3rd congressional district. James F. Dowdell (D)
 * Alabama's 4th congressional district. William R. Smith (A)
 * Alabama's 5th congressional district. George S. Houston (D)
 * Alabama's 6th congressional district. Williamson R. W. Cobb (D)
 * Alabama's 7th congressional district. Sampson W. Harris (D)

Arkansas

 * Arkansas's 1st congressional district. Alfred B. Greenwood (D)
 * Arkansas's 2nd congressional district. Albert Rust (D)

California
Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
 * California's at-large congressional district. James W. Denver (D)
 * California's at-large congressional district. Philemon T. Herbert (D)

Connecticut

 * Connecticut's 1st congressional district. Ezra Clark Jr. (A)
 * Connecticut's 2nd congressional district. John Woodruff (A)
 * Connecticut's 3rd congressional district. Sidney Dean (A)
 * Connecticut's 4th congressional district. William W. Welch (A)

Delaware

 * Delaware's at-large congressional district. Elisha D. Cullen (A)

Florida

 * Florida's at-large congressional district. Augustus Maxwell (D)

Georgia

 * Georgia's 1st congressional district. James L. Seward (D)
 * Georgia's 2nd congressional district. Martin J. Crawford (D)
 * Georgia's 3rd congressional district. Robert P. Trippe (A)
 * Georgia's 4th congressional district. Hiram B. Warner (D)
 * Georgia's 5th congressional district. John H. Lumpkin (D)
 * Georgia's 6th congressional district. Howell Cobb (D)
 * Georgia's 7th congressional district. Nathaniel G. Foster (A)
 * Georgia's 8th congressional district. Alexander Stephens (D)

Illinois

 * Illinois's 1st congressional district. Elihu B. Washburne (O)
 * Illinois's 2nd congressional district. James H. Woodworth (O)
 * Illinois's 3rd congressional district. Jesse O. Norton (O)
 * Illinois's 4th congressional district. James Knox (O)
 * Illinois's 5th congressional district. William A. Richardson (D), until August 25, 1856
 * Jacob C. Davis (D), from November 4, 1856
 * Illinois's 6th congressional district. Thomas L. Harris (D)
 * Illinois's 7th congressional district. James C. Allen (D), until July 18, 1856, and from November 4, 1856
 * Illinois's 8th congressional district. James L. D. Morrison (D), from November 4, 1856
 * Illinois's 9th congressional district. Samuel S. Marshall (D)

Indiana

 * Indiana's 1st congressional district. Smith Miller (D)
 * Indiana's 2nd congressional district. William H. English (D)
 * Indiana's 3rd congressional district. George G. Dunn (O)
 * Indiana's 4th congressional district. William Cumback (O)
 * Indiana's 5th congressional district. David P. Holloway (O)
 * Indiana's 6th congressional district. Lucien Barbour (O)
 * Indiana's 7th congressional district. Harvey D. Scott (O)
 * Indiana's 8th congressional district. Daniel Mace (O)
 * Indiana's 9th congressional district. Schuyler Colfax (O)
 * Indiana's 10th congressional district. Samuel Brenton (O)
 * Indiana's 11th congressional district. John U. Pettit (O)

Iowa

 * Iowa's 1st congressional district. Augustus Hall (D)
 * Iowa's 2nd congressional district. James Thorington (O)

Kentucky

 * Kentucky's 1st congressional district. Henry C. Burnett (D)
 * Kentucky's 2nd congressional district. John P. Campbell Jr. (A)
 * Kentucky's 3rd congressional district. Warner L. Underwood (A)
 * Kentucky's 4th congressional district. Albert G. Talbott (D)
 * Kentucky's 5th congressional district. Joshua Jewett (D)
 * Kentucky's 6th congressional district. John M. Elliott (D)
 * Kentucky's 7th congressional district. Humphrey Marshall (A)
 * Kentucky's 8th congressional district. Alexander K. Marshall (A)
 * Kentucky's 9th congressional district. Leander Cox (A)
 * Kentucky's 10th congressional district. Samuel F. Swope (A)

Louisiana

 * Louisiana's 1st congressional district. George Eustis Jr. (A)
 * Louisiana's 2nd congressional district. Miles Taylor (D)
 * Louisiana's 3rd congressional district. Thomas G. Davidson (D)
 * Louisiana's 4th congressional district. John M. Sandidge (D)

Maine

 * Maine's 1st congressional district. John M. Wood (O)
 * Maine's 2nd congressional district. John J. Perry (O)
 * Maine's 3rd congressional district. Ebenezer Knowlton (O)
 * Maine's 4th congressional district. Samuel P. Benson (O)
 * Maine's 5th congressional district. Israel Washburn Jr. (O)
 * Maine's 6th congressional district. Thomas J. D. Fuller (D)

Maryland

 * Maryland's 1st congressional district. James A. Stewart (D)
 * Maryland's 2nd congressional district. James B. Ricaud (A)
 * Maryland's 3rd congressional district. J. Morrison Harris (A)
 * Maryland's 4th congressional district. Henry Winter Davis (A)
 * Maryland's 5th congressional district. Henry William Hoffman (A)
 * Maryland's 6th congressional district. Thomas F. Bowie (D)

Massachusetts

 * Massachusetts's 1st congressional district. Robert B. Hall (A)
 * Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district. James Buffington (A)
 * Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district. William S. Damrell (A)
 * Massachusetts's 4th congressional district. Linus B. Comins (A)
 * Massachusetts's 5th congressional district. Anson Burlingame (A)
 * Massachusetts's 6th congressional district. Timothy Davis (A)
 * Massachusetts's 7th congressional district. Nathaniel P. Banks (A)
 * Massachusetts's 8th congressional district. Chauncey L. Knapp (A)
 * Massachusetts's 9th congressional district. Alexander De Witt (A)
 * Massachusetts's 10th congressional district. Calvin C. Chaffee (A)
 * Massachusetts's 11th congressional district. Mark Trafton (A)

Michigan

 * Michigan's 1st congressional district. William A. Howard (O)
 * Michigan's 2nd congressional district. Henry Waldron (O)
 * Michigan's 3rd congressional district. David S. Walbridge (O)
 * Michigan's 4th congressional district. George W. Peck (D)

Mississippi

 * Mississippi's 1st congressional district. Daniel B. Wright (D)
 * Mississippi's 2nd congressional district. Hendley S. Bennett (D)
 * Mississippi's 3rd congressional district. William Barksdale (D)
 * Mississippi's 4th congressional district. William A. Lake (A)
 * Mississippi's 5th congressional district. John A. Quitman (D)

Missouri

 * Missouri's 1st congressional district. Luther M. Kennett (O)
 * Missouri's 2nd congressional district. Gilchrist Porter (O)
 * Missouri's 3rd congressional district. James J. Lindley (O)
 * Missouri's 4th congressional district. Mordecai Oliver (O)
 * Missouri's 5th congressional district. John G. Miller (O), until May 11, 1856
 * Thomas P. Akers (A), from August 18, 1856
 * Missouri's 6th congressional district. John S. Phelps (D)
 * Missouri's 7th congressional district. Samuel Caruthers (O)

New Hampshire

 * New Hampshire's 1st congressional district. James Pike (A)
 * New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district. Mason Tappan (A)
 * New Hampshire's 3rd congressional district. Aaron H. Cragin (A)

New Jersey

 * New Jersey's 1st congressional district. Isaiah D. Clawson (O)
 * New Jersey's 2nd congressional district. George R. Robbins (O)
 * New Jersey's 3rd congressional district. James Bishop (O)
 * New Jersey's 4th congressional district. George Vail (D)
 * New Jersey's 5th congressional district. Alexander C. M. Pennington (O)

New York

 * New York's 1st congressional district. William Valk (A)
 * New York's 2nd congressional district. James S. T. Stranahan (O)
 * New York's 3rd congressional district. Guy R. Pelton (O)
 * New York's 4th congressional district. John Kelly (D)
 * New York's 5th congressional district. Thomas R. Whitney (A)
 * New York's 6th congressional district. John Wheeler (D)
 * New York's 7th congressional district. Thomas Child Jr. (O)
 * New York's 8th congressional district. Abram Wakeman (O)
 * New York's 9th congressional district. Bayard Clarke (O)
 * New York's 10th congressional district. Ambrose S. Murray (O)
 * New York's 11th congressional district. Rufus H. King (O)
 * New York's 12th congressional district. Killian Miller (O)
 * New York's 13th congressional district. Russell Sage (O)
 * New York's 14th congressional district. Samuel Dickson (O)
 * New York's 15th congressional district. Edward Dodd (O)
 * New York's 16th congressional district. George A. Simmons (O)
 * New York's 17th congressional district. Francis E. Spinner (D)
 * New York's 18th congressional district. Thomas R. Horton (O)
 * New York's 19th congressional district. Jonas A. Hughston (O)
 * New York's 20th congressional district. Orsamus B. Matteson (O), until February 27, 1857
 * New York's 21st congressional district. Henry Bennett (O)
 * New York's 22nd congressional district. Andrew Z. McCarty (O)
 * New York's 23rd congressional district. William A. Gilbert (O), until February 27, 1857
 * New York's 24th congressional district. Amos P. Granger (O)
 * New York's 25th congressional district. Edwin B. Morgan (O)
 * New York's 26th congressional district. Andrew Oliver (D)
 * New York's 27th congressional district. John M. Parker (O)
 * New York's 28th congressional district. William H. Kelsey (O)
 * New York's 29th congressional district. John Williams (D)
 * New York's 30th congressional district. Benjamin Pringle (O)
 * New York's 31st congressional district. Thomas T. Flagler (O)
 * New York's 32nd congressional district. Solomon G. Haven (O)
 * New York's 33rd congressional district. Francis S. Edwards (A), until February 28, 1857

North Carolina

 * North Carolina's 1st congressional district. Robert T. Paine (A)
 * North Carolina's 2nd congressional district. Thomas H. Ruffin (D)
 * North Carolina's 3rd congressional district. Warren Winslow (D)
 * North Carolina's 4th congressional district. Lawrence O'Bryan Branch (D)
 * North Carolina's 5th congressional district. Edwin G. Reade (A)
 * North Carolina's 6th congressional district. Richard C. Puryear (A)
 * North Carolina's 7th congressional district. F. Burton Craige (D)
 * North Carolina's 8th congressional district. Thomas L. Clingman (D)

Ohio

 * Ohio's 1st congressional district. Timothy C. Day (O)
 * Ohio's 2nd congressional district. John Scott Harrison (O)
 * Ohio's 3rd congressional district. Lewis D. Campbell (O)
 * Ohio's 4th congressional district. Matthias H. Nichols (O)
 * Ohio's 5th congressional district. Richard Mott (O)
 * Ohio's 6th congressional district. Jonas R. Emrie (O)
 * Ohio's 7th congressional district. Aaron Harlan (O)
 * Ohio's 8th congressional district. Benjamin Stanton (O)
 * Ohio's 9th congressional district. Cooper K. Watson (O)
 * Ohio's 10th congressional district. Oscar F. Moore (O)
 * Ohio's 11th congressional district. Valentine B. Horton (O)
 * Ohio's 12th congressional district. Samuel Galloway (O)
 * Ohio's 13th congressional district. John Sherman (O)
 * Ohio's 14th congressional district. Philemon Bliss (O)
 * Ohio's 15th congressional district. William R. Sapp (O)
 * Ohio's 16th congressional district. Edward Ball (O)
 * Ohio's 17th congressional district. Charles J. Albright (O)
 * Ohio's 18th congressional district. Benjamin F. Leiter (O)
 * Ohio's 19th congressional district. Edward Wade (O)
 * Ohio's 20th congressional district. Joshua R. Giddings (O)
 * Ohio's 21st congressional district. John Bingham (O)

Pennsylvania

 * Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district. Thomas B. Florence (D)
 * Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district. Job R. Tyson (O)
 * Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district. William Millward (O)
 * Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district. Jacob Broom (A)
 * Pennsylvania's 5th congressional district. John Cadwalader (D)
 * Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district. John Hickman (D)
 * Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district. Samuel C. Bradshaw (O)
 * Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district. J. Glancey Jones (D)
 * Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district. Anthony E. Roberts (O)
 * Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district. John C. Kunkel (O)
 * Pennsylvania's 11th congressional district. James H. Campbell (O)
 * Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district. Henry M. Fuller (O)
 * Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district. Asa Packer (D)
 * Pennsylvania's 14th congressional district. Galusha A. Grow (D)
 * Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district. John J. Pearce (O)
 * Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district. Lemuel Todd (O)
 * Pennsylvania's 17th congressional district. David F. Robison (O)
 * Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district. John R. Edie (O)
 * Pennsylvania's 19th congressional district. John Covode (O)
 * Pennsylvania's 20th congressional district. Jonathan Knight (O)
 * Pennsylvania's 21st congressional district. David Ritchie (O)
 * Pennsylvania's 22nd congressional district. Samuel A. Purviance (O)
 * Pennsylvania's 23rd congressional district. John Allison (O)
 * Pennsylvania's 24th congressional district. David Barclay (D)
 * Pennsylvania's 25th congressional district. John Dick (O)

Rhode Island

 * Rhode Island's 1st congressional district. Nathaniel B. Durfee (A)
 * Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district. Benjamin B. Thurston (A)

South Carolina

 * South Carolina's 1st congressional district. John McQueen (D)
 * South Carolina's 2nd congressional district. William Aiken Jr. (D)
 * South Carolina's 3rd congressional district. Laurence M. Keitt (D), until July 15, 1856, and from August 6, 1856
 * South Carolina's 4th congressional district. Preston Brooks (D), until July 15, 1856, and from August 1, 1856, until January 27, 1857
 * South Carolina's 5th congressional district. James L. Orr (D)
 * South Carolina's 6th congressional district. William W. Boyce (D)

Tennessee

 * Tennessee's 1st congressional district. Albert G. Watkins (D)
 * Tennessee's 2nd congressional district. William H. Sneed (A)
 * Tennessee's 3rd congressional district. Samuel A. Smith (D)
 * Tennessee's 4th congressional district. John H. Savage (D)
 * Tennessee's 5th congressional district. Charles Ready (A)
 * Tennessee's 6th congressional district. George W. Jones (D)
 * Tennessee's 7th congressional district. John V. Wright (D)
 * Tennessee's 8th congressional district. Felix K. Zollicoffer (A)
 * Tennessee's 9th congressional district. Emerson Etheridge (A)
 * Tennessee's 10th congressional district. Thomas Rivers (A)

Texas

 * Texas's 1st congressional district. Lemuel D. Evans (A)
 * Texas's 2nd congressional district. Peter H. Bell (D)

Vermont

 * Vermont's 1st congressional district. James Meacham (O), until August 23, 1856
 * George T. Hodges (R), from December 1, 1856
 * Vermont's 2nd congressional district. Justin S. Morrill (O)
 * Vermont's 3rd congressional district. Alvah Sabin (O)

Virginia

 * Virginia's 1st congressional district. Thomas H. Bayly (D), until June 23, 1856
 * Muscoe R. H. Garnett (D), from December 1, 1856
 * Virginia's 2nd congressional district. John S. Millson (D)
 * Virginia's 3rd congressional district. John Caskie (D)
 * Virginia's 4th congressional district. William Goode (D)
 * Virginia's 5th congressional district. Thomas S. Bocock (D)
 * Virginia's 6th congressional district. Paulus Powell (D)
 * Virginia's 7th congressional district. William Smith (D)
 * Virginia's 8th congressional district. Charles J. Faulkner Sr. (D)
 * Virginia's 9th congressional district. John Letcher (D)
 * Virginia's 10th congressional district. Zedekiah Kidwell (D)
 * Virginia's 11th congressional district. John S. Carlile (A)
 * Virginia's 12th congressional district. Henry A. Edmundson (D)
 * Virginia's 13th congressional district. LaFayette McMullen (D)

Wisconsin

 * Wisconsin's 1st congressional district. Daniel Wells Jr. (D)
 * Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district. Cadwallader C. Washburn (O)
 * Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district. Charles Billinghurst (O)

Non-voting members

 * Kansas Territory's at-large congressional district. John W. Whitfield (D), until August 1, 1856, and from December 9, 1856
 * Minnesota Territory's at-large congressional district. Henry M. Rice (D)
 * Nebraska Territory's at-large congressional district. Bird B. Chapman (D)
 * New Mexico Territory's at-large congressional district. José Manuel Gallegos (D), until July 23, 1856
 * Miguel A. Otero (D), from July 23, 1856
 * Oregon Territory's at-large congressional district. Joseph Lane (D)
 * Utah Territory's at-large congressional district. John M. Bernhisel
 * Washington Territory's at-large congressional district. James P. Anderson (D)

[[File:34 us house membership.png|thumb|400px|

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

Senate

 * nowrap | New Hampshire (2)
 * Vacant
 * Charles G. Atherton (D) died during the previous Congress. Jared W. Williams (D) was appointed November 29, 1853, to continue the term, but his term was deemed expired July 15, 1854, and the legislature failed to elect a successor. A successor was finally elected July 30, 1855.
 * nowrap | John Parker Hale (R)
 * July 30, 1855
 * July 30, 1855


 * nowrap | New Hampshire (3)
 * Vacant
 * Legislature failed to elect on time. Successor was elected.
 * nowrap | James Bell (R)
 * July 30, 1855
 * July 30, 1855


 * nowrap | Alabama (3)
 * Vacant
 * Legislature failed to elect on time. Incumbent was then re-elected November 26, 1855.
 * nowrap | Benjamin Fitzpatrick (D)
 * November 26, 1855
 * November 26, 1855


 * nowrap | Pennsylvania (3)
 * Vacant
 * Legislature failed to elect on time. Successor elected January 14, 1856.
 * nowrap | William Bigler (D)
 * January 14, 1856
 * January 14, 1856


 * nowrap | Missouri (3)
 * Vacant
 * Elected but took seat late on January 12, 1857.
 * nowrap | James S. Green (D)
 * January 12, 1857
 * January 12, 1857


 * nowrap | California (3)
 * Vacant
 * Legislature failed to elect on time. Incumbent was then re-elected January 13, 1857.
 * nowrap | William M. Gwin (D)
 * January 13, 1857
 * January 13, 1857


 * nowrap | Indiana (3)
 * Vacant
 * Legislature failed to elect on time. Senator elected February 4, 1857.
 * nowrap | Graham N. Fitch (D)
 * February 4, 1857
 * February 4, 1857


 * nowrap | Delaware (2)
 * nowrap | John M. Clayton (W)
 * Died November 9, 1856. Successor was appointed.
 * nowrap | Joseph P. Comegys (W)
 * November 19, 1856
 * November 19, 1856


 * nowrap | Maine (1)
 * nowrap | Hannibal Hamlin (D)
 * Resigned January 7, 1857, to become Governor of Maine. Successor was elected January 16, 1857.
 * nowrap | Amos Nourse (R)
 * January 16, 1857
 * January 16, 1857


 * nowrap | Delaware (2)
 * nowrap | Joseph P. Comegys (W)
 * Appointment expired January 14, 1857, upon successor's election.
 * nowrap | Martin W. Bates (D)
 * January 14, 1857
 * January 14, 1857


 * nowrap | Iowa (3)
 * nowrap | James Harlan (FS)
 * Owing to irregularities in the legislative proceedings the Senate declared the seat vacant January 5, 1857. Incumbent was subsequently re-elected January 29, 1857, to fill the vacancy caused by his ouster.
 * nowrap | James Harlan (R)
 * January 29, 1857
 * January 29, 1857


 * }

House of Representatives

 * Replacements: 6
 * Democrats: 2 seat net loss
 * Opposition: 4 seat net gain
 * Deaths: 4
 * Resignations: 5
 * Contested election: 1
 * Total seats with changes: 10


 * Illinois's 8th congressional district
 * Vacant
 * style="font-size:80%" | Rep-elect Lyman Trumbull resigned in previous congress after being elected to the US Senate
 * | James L. D. Morrison (D)
 * Seated November 4, 1856
 * Missouri's 5th congressional district
 * | John G. Miller (O)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Died May 11, 1856
 * | Thomas P. Akers (A)
 * Seated August 18, 1856
 * Virginia's 1st congressional district
 * | Thomas H. Bayly (D)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Died June 23, 1856
 * | Muscoe R. H. Garnett (D)
 * Seated December 1, 1856
 * South Carolina's 3rd congressional district
 * | Laurence M. Keitt (D)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Resigned July 15, 1856, after being censured in his role in the assault on US Senator Charles Sumner. He was subsequently re-elected to fill the vacancy
 * | Laurence M. Keitt (D)
 * Seated August 6, 1856
 * South Carolina's 4th congressional district
 * | Preston Brooks (D)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Resigned July 15, 1856, after assaulting US Senator Charles Sumner. He was subsequently re-elected to fill the vacancy
 * | Preston Brooks (D)
 * Seated August 1, 1856
 * Illinois's 7th congressional district
 * | James C. Allen (D)
 * style="font-size:80%" | House declared on July 18, 1856, he was not entitled to seat. He was subsequently re-elected to fill the vacancy
 * | James C. Allen (D)
 * Seated November 4, 1856
 * New Mexico Territory's at-large congressional district
 * | José M. Gallegos (D)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Contested election July 23, 1856
 * | Miguel A. Otero (D)
 * Seated July 23, 1856
 * Kansas Territory's at-large congressional district
 * | John W. Whitfield (D)
 * style="font-size:80%" | House declared August 1, 1856, the seat vacant. He was subsequently re-elected to fill the vacancy
 * | John W. Whitfield (D)
 * Seated December 9, 1856
 * Vermont's 1st congressional district
 * | James Meacham (O)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Died August 23, 1856
 * | George T. Hodges (R)
 * Seated December 1, 1856
 * Illinois's 5th congressional district
 * | William A. Richardson (D)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Resigned August 25, 1856
 * | Jacob C. Davis (D)
 * Seated November 4, 1856
 * South Carolina's 4th congressional district
 * | Preston Brooks (D)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Died January 27, 1857
 * Vacant
 * Not filled this term
 * New York's 20th congressional district
 * | Orsamus B. Matteson (O)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Resigned February 27, 1857
 * Vacant
 * Not filled this term
 * New York's 23rd congressional district
 * | William A. Gilbert (O)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Resigned February 27, 1857
 * Vacant
 * Not filled this term
 * New York's 33rd congressional district
 * | Francis S. Edwards (A)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Resigned February 28, 1857
 * Vacant
 * Not filled this term
 * }
 * Not filled this term
 * New York's 23rd congressional district
 * | William A. Gilbert (O)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Resigned February 27, 1857
 * Vacant
 * Not filled this term
 * New York's 33rd congressional district
 * | Francis S. Edwards (A)
 * style="font-size:80%" | Resigned February 28, 1857
 * Vacant
 * Not filled this term
 * }
 * Not filled this term
 * }

Committees
List of committees and their party leaders.

Senate

 * Agriculture (Chairman: Philip Allen)
 * American Association for the Promotion of Science (Select)
 * Atmospheric Telegraph Between Washington and Baltimore (Select)
 * Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate (Chairman: Josiah J. Evans)
 * Claims (Chairman: Richard Brodhead)
 * Commerce (Chairman: Hannibal Hamlin then Henry Dodge)
 * Distributing Public Revenue Among the States (Select)
 * District of Columbia (Chairman: Albert G. Brown)
 * Engrossed Bills (Chairman: Jacob Collamer)
 * Finance (Chairman: Robert M. T. Hunter)
 * Foreign Relations (Chairman: James M. Mason)
 * French Spoilations (Select)
 * Indian Affairs (Chairman: William K. Sebastian)
 * Judiciary (Chairman: Andrew P. Butler)
 * Library (Chairman: James A. Pearce)
 * Loss of Original Papers of Mark and Richard Bean (Select)
 * Mexican Claims Commission (Select)
 * Manufactures (Chairman: William Wright)
 * Military Affairs (Chairman: John B. Weller)
 * Militia (Chairman: Sam Houston)
 * Naval Affairs (Chairman: Stephen Mallory)
 * Ordnance and War Ships (Select)
 * Pacific Railroad (Select)
 * Patents and the Patent Office (Chairman: Charles T. James)
 * Pensions (Chairman: George Wallace Jones)
 * Post Office and Post Roads (Chairman: Thomas J. Rusk)
 * Printing (Chairman: Robert W. Johnson)
 * Private Claims Commission (Select)
 * Private Land Claims (Chairman: Judah P. Benjamin)
 * Protection of Life and Health in Passenger Ships (Select)
 * Public Buildings (Chairman: James A. Bayard)
 * Public Lands (Chairman: Charles E. Stuart)
 * Retrenchment (Chairman: Stephen Adams)
 * Revolutionary Claims (Chairman: Josiah J. Evans)
 * Roads and Canals (Chairman: John Slidell)
 * Sickness on Emigrant Ships (Select)
 * Tariff Regulation (Select)
 * Territories (Chairman: Stephen A. Douglas)
 * Whole

House of Representatives

 * Accounts (Chairman: Benjamin B. Thurston)
 * Agriculture (Chairman: David P. Holloway)
 * Claims (Chairman: John Hickman)
 * Commerce (Chairman: Elihu B. Washburne)
 * District of Columbia (Chairman: Orsamus B. Matteson)
 * Elections (Chairman: Israel Washburn Jr.)
 * Engraving (Chairman: William H. Kelsey)
 * Expenditures in the Navy Department (Chairman: Thomas L. Harris)
 * Expenditures in the Post Office Department (Chairman: John Pettit)
 * Expenditures in the State Department (Chairman: Preston S. Brooks)
 * Expenditures in the Treasury Department (Chairman: Henry Waldron)
 * Expenditures in the War Department (Chairman: Joshua H. Jewett)
 * Expenditures on Public Buildings (Chairman: Fayette McMullen)
 * Foreign Affairs (Chairman: Alexander C. M. Pennington)
 * Indian Affairs (Chairman: Benjamin Pringle)
 * Invalid Pensions (Chairman: Andrew Oliver)
 * Judiciary (Chairman: George A. Simmons)
 * Manufactures (Chairman: Ezra Clark Jr.)
 * Mileage (Chairman: William H. Sneed)
 * Military Affairs (Chairman: John A. Quitman)
 * Militia (Chairman: John C. Kunkel)
 * Naval Affairs (Chairman: Samuel P. Benson)
 * Patents (Chairman: Edwin B. Morgan)
 * Post Office and Post Roads (Chairman: Daniel Mace)
 * Private Land Claims (Chairman: Gilchrist Porter)
 * Public Buildings and Grounds (Chairman: Edward Ball)
 * Public Expenditures (Chairman: Sidney Dean)
 * Public Lands (Chairman: Henry Bennett)
 * Revisal and Unfinished Business (Chairman: Alvah Sabin)
 * Revolutionary Claims (Chairman: David Ritchie)
 * Revolutionary Pensions (Chairman: Jacob Broom)
 * Roads and Canals (Chairman: James Knox)
 * Rules (Select)
 * Standards of Official Conduct
 * Territories (Chairman: Galusha A. Grow)
 * Ways and Means (Chairman: J. Glancy Jones then John S. Phelps)
 * Whole

Joint committees

 * Amending the Constitution on Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections
 * Enrolled Bills (Chairman: Rep. James Pike)
 * The Library (Chairman: Rep. William Aiken)
 * Printing (Chairman: Rep. Matthias H. Nichols)
 * San Francisco Disaster

Caucuses

 * Democratic (House)
 * Democratic (Senate)

Legislative branch agency directors

 * Architect of the Capitol: Thomas U. Walter
 * Librarian of Congress: John Silva Meehan

Senate

 * Chaplain: Henry Slicer (Methodist), until December 4, 1855
 * Henry C. Dean (Methodist), until December 8, 1856
 * Stephen P. Hill (Baptist), elected December 8, 1856
 * Secretary: Asbury Dickins
 * Sergeant at Arms: Dunning R. McNair

House of Representatives

 * Chaplain: None
 * Clerk: John W. Forney, until February 4, 1856
 * William Cullom, elected February 4, 1856
 * Doorkeeper: Nathan Darling
 * Messenger: Thaddeus Morrice
 * Postmaster: Robert Morris
 * Sergeant at Arms: Adam J. Glossbrenner
 * Reading Clerks: