31st United States Congress

{{short description|1849–1851 U.S. Congress}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox United States Congress |image = Capitol1846.jpg |imagedate = 1846 |number = 31st |start = March 4, 1849 |end = March 4, 1851 |vp = Millard Fillmore (W){{efn|U.S. Vice President Millard Fillmore's term as President of the Senate ended on July 9, 1850, when ascending to the Presidency, President pro tempore William R. King acted his duties as the President of the Senate.}} (until July 9, 1850) Vacant (from July 9, 1850) |pro tem = David R. Atchison (D) William R. King (D) |speaker = Howell Cobb (CU) |senators = 62 |reps = 233 |delegates = 2 |s-majority = Democratic |h-majority = Democratic (plurality) |sessionnumber1 = Special{{efn|Special session of the Senate.}} |sessionstart1 = March 5, 1849 |sessionend1 = March 23, 1849 |sessionnumber2= 1st |sessionstart2 = December 3, 1849 |sessionend2 = September 30, 1850 |sessionnumber3 = 2nd |sessionstart3 = December 2, 1850 |sessionend3 = March 4, 1851 |previous = 30th |next = 32nd }} 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. {{TOC limit|2}}

==Major events== {{See also|1849 in the United States|1850 in the United States|1851 in the United States}}

* 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.{{efn|A group of senators consisting of John Macpherson Berrien, William C. Dawson, Benjamin Fitzpatrick, William R. King, James M. Mason, Robert M. T. Hunter, Jesse D. Bright, James Whitcomb, Thomas Corwin, Salmon P. Chase, Joseph R. Underwood and Henry Clay, as well as a group of representatives from the House consisting of Linn Boyd, James L. Johnson, Finis E. McLean, George Caldwell, John B. Thompson, Daniel Breck, Humphrey Marshall, Charles S. Morehead, John C. Mason, Richard H. Stanton, Thomas B. King, Marshall J. Wellborn, Allen F. Owen, Hugh A. Haralson, Thomas C. Hackett, Howell Cobb, Alexander Stephens, Robert Toombs, John S. Millson, Richard K. Meade, Thomas H. Averett, Thomas S. Bocock, Paulus Powell, James Seddon, Thomas H. Bayly, Alexander Holladay, Jeremiah Morton, Richard Parker, James McDowell, Henry A. Edmundson, LaFayette McMullen, James M. H. Beale, Alexander Newman, Nathaniel Albertson, Cyrus L. Dunham, John L. Robinson, George W. Julian, William J. Brown, Willis A. Gorman, Edward W. McGaughey, Joseph E. McDonald, Graham N. Fitch, Andrew J. Harlan, David T. Disney, Lewis D. Campbell, Robert C. Schenck, Moses B. Corwin, Emery D. Potter, Jonathan D. Morris, John L. Taylor, Edson B. Olds, Charles Sweetser, John K. Miller, Samuel F. Vinton, William A. Whittlesey, Nathan Evans, William F. Hunter, Moses Hoagland, Joseph Cable, David K. Cartter, John Crowell, Joshua R. Giddings and Joseph M. Root all condemned France's President Napoleon III on the floor of the House and Senate, and put in writing that they expressed "solidarity" with President Taylor in his diplomatic clash with the French. This breakdown in relations with France was considered a potential diplomatic disaster in France, and it only calmed down when the French ambassador was removed and replaced by his own government. President Taylor refused to budge, and remained openly hostile to the French. However, Vice President Millard Fillmore was outspokenly sympathetic to the French, causing the French ambassador to remark "we have in this country (the United States) a president who hates France and Vice President who loves France. Our interests are with Fillmore." Before being removed the French ambassador wrote "With this President, this Congress and this Senate, the United States is a hostile country to us."<ref>John Macpherson Berrien of Georgia (1781-1856): A Political Biography, Royce Coggins McCrary University of Georgia, 1974</ref><ref>President Zachary Taylor: The Hero President by Elbert B. Smith</ref><ref>Who Were the Southern Whigs? by Charles Grier Sellers</ref><ref>A Reappraisal of Franco-American Relations, 1830-1871 by Henry Blumenthal</ref><ref>The World: Historical & Actual: What Has Been & what is ... by Frank Gilbert, pg. 681</ref>}} * December 3–22, 1849: The election for the House speakership takes 63 ballots.<ref>{{cite conference | url=https://www.academia.edu/153068 | title=Sophisticated Behavior and Speakership Elections: The Elections of 1849 and 1855–56 | access-date=January 8, 2013 |date=April 2001 | conference=Midwest Political Science Association | location=Chicago, IL | page=29 | last1=Jenkins | first1=Jeffery A. | last2=Stewart III | first2=Charles}}</ref> * 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS0310089|title=Voteview | Plot Vote: 31st Congress > Senate > 89}}</ref> The results of the vote were celebrated in Britain.<ref>Mediation of the Honduran-Guatemalan Boundary Question: Held Under the Good Offices of the Department of State, 1918-1919 ... by United States. Department of State U.S. Government Printing Office, 1919 pg. 211</ref> * July 9, 1850: President Taylor died and Vice President Millard Fillmore became president.

==Major legislation== {{main|List of United States federal legislation, 1789–1901#1821 to 1831|l1=Major legislation: 31st United States Congress}} *September 9, 1850: Compromise of 1850, sess. 1, chs. 48-51, {{USStat|9|446}} - {{USStat|9|458}} *September 18, 1850: Fugitive Slave Act, sess. 1, ch. 60, {{USStat|9|462}} *September 20, 1850: "An Act to suppress the Slave Trade in the District of Columbia," sess. 1, ch. 63, {{USStat|9|467}} *September 29, 1850: Donation Land Claim Act, sess. 1, ch. 76, {{USStat|9|496}}

==States admitted and territories organized== *September 9, 1850 — As part of the Compromise of 1850: ** Texas's borders were changed, ch. 49, {{USStat|9|446}} ** New Mexico Territory was organized, ch. 49, {{USStat|9|448}} ** California was admitted as a state, ch. 50, {{USStat|9|452}} ** Utah Territory was organized, ch. 51, {{USStat|9|453}}

== Party summary ==

=== Senate === During this Congress, two Senate seats were added for the new state of California. {{US Congress party summary | congress = 31

| seats_vacant_last = 0 | seats_vacant_begin = 0 | seats_vacant_end = 0 | seats_vacant_next = 5

}}

===House of Representatives=== During this Congress, two House seats were added for the new state of California. {{US Congress party summary | congress = 31

| seats_vacant_last = 1 | seats_vacant_begin = 1 | seats_vacant_end = 3 | seats_vacant_next = 0

}}

==Leadership== [[File:Millard Fillmore by Brady Studio 1855-65-crop.jpg|thumb|175px|President of the Senate Millard Fillmore]]

===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=== {{main|List of United States senators in the 31st Congress}} thumb|375px|Senators' party membership by state at the opening of the 31st Congress in March 1849. The green stripes represent Free Soil. California's senators were not seated until September 10, 1850. {{legend|#0044aa|2 Democrats}} {{legend|#660080|1 Democrat and 1 Whig}} {{legend|#aa0000|2 Whigs}} {{multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center | header = Senate presidents pro tempore | image1 = David Rice Atchison.jpg | width1 = 183 | alt1 = David R. Atchison | caption1 = David R. Atchison (D) (until December 2, 1849)

| image2 = William Rufus DeVane King 1839 portrait.jpg | width2 = 175 | alt2 = Daniel Inouye | caption2 = William R. King (D) (from May 6, 1850) }} 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. {{col-begin}} {{col-break}}

==== Alabama ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}2. Benjamin Fitzpatrick (D), until November 30, 1849 :: {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}Jeremiah Clemens (D), from November 30, 1849 : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}3. William R. King (D)

==== Arkansas ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}2. William K. Sebastian (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}3. Solon Borland (D)

==== California ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}1. John C. Frémont (D), from September 10, 1850 (newly admitted state) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}3. William M. Gwin (D), from September 10, 1850 (newly admitted state)

==== Connecticut ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}1. Roger S. Baldwin (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}3. Truman Smith (W)

==== Delaware ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}1. John Wales (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}2. Presley Spruance (W)

==== Florida ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}1. David Levy Yulee (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}3. Jackson Morton (W)

==== Georgia ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}2. John Macpherson Berrien (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}3. William C. Dawson (W)

==== Illinois ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}2. Stephen A. Douglas (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}3. James Shields (D), until March 6, 1849 :: {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}James Shields (D), from December 3, 1849

==== Indiana ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}1. Jesse D. Bright (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}3. James Whitcomb (D)

==== Iowa ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}2. George Wallace Jones (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}3. Augustus C. Dodge (D)

==== Kentucky ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}2. Joseph R. Underwood (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}3. Henry Clay (W)

==== Louisiana ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}2. Solomon W. Downs (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}3. Pierre Soulé (D)

==== Maine ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}1. Hannibal Hamlin (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}2. James W. Bradbury (D)

==== Maryland ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}1. Reverdy Johnson (W), until March 7, 1849 :: {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}David Stewart (W), from December 6, 1849, until January 12, 1850 :: {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}Thomas Pratt (W), from January 12, 1850 : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}3. James Pearce (W)

==== Massachusetts ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}1. Daniel Webster (W), until July 22, 1850 :: {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}Robert C. Winthrop (W), from July 30, 1850, until February 1, 1851 :: {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}Robert Rantoul Jr. (D), from February 1, 1851 : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}2. John Davis (W) {{col-break}}

==== Michigan ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}1. Lewis Cass (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}2. Alpheus Felch (D)

==== Mississippi ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}1. Jefferson Davis (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}2. Henry S. Foote (D)

==== Missouri ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}1. Thomas H. Benton (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}3. David R. Atchison (D)

==== New Hampshire ==== : {{Party stripe|Free Soil Party}}2. John P. Hale (FS) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}3. Moses Norris Jr. (D)

==== New Jersey ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}1. William L. Dayton (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}2. Jacob W. Miller (W)

==== New York ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}1. Daniel S. Dickinson (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}3. William H. Seward (W)

==== North Carolina ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}2. Willie P. Mangum (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}3. George E. Badger (W)

==== Ohio ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}1. Thomas Corwin (W), until July 20, 1850 :: {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}Thomas Ewing (W), from July 20, 1850 : {{Party stripe|Free Soil Party}}3. Salmon P. Chase (FS)

==== Pennsylvania ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}1. Daniel Sturgeon (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}3. James Cooper (W)

==== Rhode Island ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}1. Albert C. Greene (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}2. John H. Clarke (W)

==== South Carolina ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}2. John C. Calhoun (D), until March 31, 1850 :: {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}Franklin H. Elmore (D), from April 11, 1850, until May 29, 1850 :: {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}Robert W. Barnwell (D), from June 4, 1850, until December 18, 1850 :: {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}Robert Rhett (D), from December 18, 1850 : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}3. Andrew Butler (D)

==== Tennessee ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}1. Hopkins L. Turney (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}2. John Bell (W)

==== Texas ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}1. Thomas J. Rusk (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}2. Samuel Houston (D)

==== Vermont ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}1. Samuel S. Phelps (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}3. William Upham (W)

==== Virginia ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}1. James M. Mason (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}2. Robert M. T. Hunter (D)

==== Wisconsin ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}1. Henry Dodge (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}3. Isaac P. Walker (D) {{col-break}} {{col-end}}

===House of Representatives=== {{main|List of United States representatives in the 31st Congress}} The names of representatives are preceded by their district numbers. {{col-begin}} {{col-break}}

==== Alabama ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Alabama|1|1}}. William J. Alston (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Alabama|2|2}}. Henry W. Hilliard (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Alabama|3|3}}. Sampson W. Harris (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Alabama|4|4}}. Samuel W. Inge (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Alabama|5|5}}. David Hubbard (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Alabama|6|6}}. Williamson R. W. Cobb (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Alabama|7|7}}. Franklin W. Bowdon (D)

==== Arkansas ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Arkansas|AL|At-large}}. Robert W. Johnson (D)

==== California ==== Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket. : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|California|AL|At-large}}. Edward Gilbert (D), from September 11, 1850 (newly admitted state) : {{Party stripe|Independent (US)}}{{ushr|California|AL|At-large}}. George W. Wright (I), from September 11, 1850 (newly admitted state)

==== Connecticut ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Connecticut|1|1}}. Loren P. Waldo (D) : {{Party stripe|Free Soil Party}}{{ushr|Connecticut|2|2}}. Walter Booth (FS) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Connecticut|3|3}}. Chauncey F. Cleveland (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Connecticut|4|4}}. Thomas B. Butler (W)

==== Delaware ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Delaware|AL|At-large}}. John W. Houston (W)

==== Florida ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Florida|AL|At-large}}. Edward C. Cabell (W)

==== Georgia ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Georgia|1|1}}. Thomas Butler King (W), until March 3, 1850 :: {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}Joseph W. Jackson (D), from March 4, 1850 : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Georgia|2|2}}. Marshall J. Wellborn (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Georgia|3|3}}. Allen F. Owen (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Georgia|4|4}}. Hugh A. Haralson (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Georgia|5|5}}. Thomas C. Hackett (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Georgia|6|6}}. Howell Cobb (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Georgia|7|7}}. Alexander H. Stephens (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Georgia|8|8}}. Robert A. Toombs (W)

==== Illinois ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Illinois|1|1}}. William H. Bissell (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Illinois|2|2}}. John A. McClernand (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Illinois|3|3}}. Timothy R. Young (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Illinois|4|4}}. John Wentworth (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Illinois|5|5}}. William A. Richardson (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Illinois|6|6}}. Edward D. Baker (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Illinois|7|7}}. Thomas L. Harris (D)

==== Indiana ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Indiana|1|1}}. Nathaniel Albertson (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Indiana|2|2}}. Cyrus L. Dunham (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Indiana|3|3}}. John L. Robinson (D) : {{Party stripe|Free Soil Party}}{{ushr|Indiana|4|4}}. George W. Julian (FS) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Indiana|5|5}}. William J. Brown (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Indiana|6|6}}. Willis A. Gorman (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Indiana|7|7}}. Edward W. McGaughey (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Indiana|8|8}}. Joseph E. McDonald (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Indiana|9|9}}. Graham N. Fitch (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Indiana|10|10}}. Andrew J. Harlan (D)

==== Iowa ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Iowa|1|1}}. William Thompson (D), until June 29, 1850 :: {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}Daniel F. Miller (W), from December 20, 1850 : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|IA|2|2}}. Shepherd Leffler (D)

====Kentucky ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Kentucky|1|1}}. Linn Boyd (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Kentucky|2|2}}. James L. Johnson (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Kentucky|3|3}}. Finis E. McLean (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Kentucky|4|4}}. George A. Caldwell (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Kentucky|5|5}}. John B. Thompson (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Kentucky|6|6}}. Daniel Breck (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Kentucky|7|7}}. Humphrey Marshall (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Kentucky|8|8}}. Charles S. Morehead (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Kentucky|9|9}}. John C. Mason (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Kentucky|10|10}}. Richard H. Stanton (D)

==== Louisiana ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Louisiana|1|1}}. Emile La Sére (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Louisiana|2|2}}. Charles M. Conrad (W), until August 17, 1850 :: {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}Henry A. Bullard (W), from December 5, 1850 : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Louisiana|3|3}}. John H. Harmanson (D), until October 24, 1850 :: {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}Alexander G. Penn (D), from December 30, 1850 : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Louisiana|4|4}}. Isaac E. Morse (D)

==== Maine ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Maine|1|1}}. Elbridge Gerry (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Maine|2|2}}. Nathaniel Littlefield (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Maine|3|3}}. John Otis (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Maine|4|4}}. Rufus K. Goodenow (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Maine|5|5}}. Cullen Sawtelle (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Maine|6|6}}. Charles Stetson (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Maine|7|7}}. Thomas J. D. Fuller (D)

==== Maryland ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Maryland|1|1}}. Richard Bowie (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Maryland|2|2}}. William T. Hamilton (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Maryland|3|3}}. Edward Hammond (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Maryland|4|4}}. Robert M. McLane (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Maryland|5|5}}. Alexander Evans (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Maryland|6|6}}. John B. Kerr (W)

==== Massachusetts ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Massachusetts|1|1}}. Robert C. Winthrop (W), until July 30, 1850 :: {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}Samuel Atkins Eliot (W), from August 22, 1850 : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Massachusetts|2|2}}. Daniel P. King (W), until July 25, 1850 : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Massachusetts|3|3}}. James H. Duncan (W) : {{0|▌}}{{ushr|Massachusetts|4|4}}. vacant : {{Party stripe|Free Soil Party}}{{ushr|Massachusetts|5|5}}. Charles Allen (FS) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Massachusetts|6|6}}. George Ashmun (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Massachusetts|7|7}}. Julius Rockwell (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Massachusetts|8|8}}. Horace Mann (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Massachusetts|9|9}}. Orin Fowler (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Massachusetts|10|10}}. Joseph Grinnell (W)

==== Michigan ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Michigan|1|1}}. Alexander W. Buel (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Michigan|2|2}}. William Sprague (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Michigan|3|3}}. Kinsley S. Bingham (D)

==== Mississippi ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Mississippi|1|1}}. Jacob Thompson (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Mississippi|2|2}}. Winfield S. Featherston (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Mississippi|3|3}}. William McWillie (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Mississippi|4|4}}. Albert G. Brown (D)

==== Missouri ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Missouri|1|1}}. James B. Bowlin (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Missouri|2|2}}. William V. Bay (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Missouri|3|3}}. James S. Green (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Missouri|4|4}}. Willard P. Hall (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Missouri|5|5}}. John S. Phelps (D)

==== New Hampshire ==== : {{Party stripe|Free Soil Party}}{{ushr|New Hampshire|1|1}}. Amos Tuck (FS) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|New Hampshire|2|2}}. Charles H. Peaslee (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New Hampshire|3|3}}. James Wilson (W), until September 9, 1850 :: {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}George W. Morrison (D), from October 8, 1850 : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|New Hampshire|4|4}}. Harry Hibbard (D)

==== New Jersey ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New Jersey|1|1}}. Andrew K. Hay (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New Jersey|2|2}}. William A. Newell (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|New Jersey|3|3}}. Isaac Wildrick (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New Jersey|4|4}}. John Van Dyke (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New Jersey|5|5}}. James G. King (W)

==== New York ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|1|1}}. John A. King (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|2|2}}. David A. Bokee (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|3|3}}. J. Phillips Phoenix (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|4|4}}. Walter Underhill (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|5|5}}. George Briggs (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|6|6}}. James Brooks (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|7|7}}. William Nelson (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|8|8}}. Ransom Halloway (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|9|9}}. Thomas McKissock (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|10|10}}. Herman D. Gould (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|11|11}}. Peter H. Silvester (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|12|12}}. Gideon Reynolds (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|13|13}}. John L. Schoolcraft (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|14|14}}. George R. Andrews (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|15|15}}. John R. Thurman (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|16|16}}. Hugh White (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|17|17}}. Henry P. Alexander (W) : {{Party stripe|Free Soil Party}}{{ushr|New York|18|18}}. Preston King (FS) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|19|19}}. Charles E. Clarke (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|20|20}}. Orsamus B. Matteson (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|21|21}}. Hiram Walden (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|22|22}}. Henry Bennett (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|23|23}}. William Duer (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|24|24}}. Daniel Gott (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|25|25}}. Harmon S. Conger (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|26|26}}. William T. Jackson (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|27|27}}. William A. Sackett (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|28|28}}. Abraham M. Schermerhorn (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|29|29}}. Robert L. Rose (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|30|30}}. David Rumsey Jr. (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|31|31}}. Elijah Risley (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|32|32}}. Elbridge G. Spaulding (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|33|33}}. Harvey Putnam (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|New York|34|34}}. Lorenzo Burrows (W) {{col-break}}

==== North Carolina ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|North Carolina|1|1}}. Thomas L. Clingman (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|North Carolina|2|2}}. Joseph P. Caldwell (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|North Carolina|3|3}}. Edmund Deberry (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|North Carolina|4|4}}. Augustine H. Shepperd (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|North Carolina|5|5}}. Abraham W. Venable (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|North Carolina|6|6}}. John R. J. Daniel (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|North Carolina|7|7}}. William S. Ashe (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|North Carolina|8|8}}. Edward Stanly (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|North Carolina|9|9}}. David Outlaw (W)

==== Ohio ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Ohio|1|1}}. David T. Disney (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Ohio|2|2}}. Lewis D. Campbell (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Ohio|3|3}}. Robert C. Schenck (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Ohio|4|4}}. Moses B. Corwin (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Ohio|5|5}}. Emery D. Potter (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Ohio|6|6}}. Rodolphus Dickinson (D), until March 20, 1849 :: {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}Amos E. Wood (D), from December 3, 1849, until November 19, 1850 :: {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}John Bell (W), from January 7, 1851 : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Ohio|7|7}}. Jonathan D. Morris (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Ohio|8|8}}. John L. Taylor (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Ohio|9|9}}. Edson B. Olds (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Ohio|10|10}}. Charles Sweetser (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Ohio|11|11}}. John K. Miller (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Ohio|12|12}}. Samuel F. Vinton (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Ohio|13|13}}. William A. Whittlesey (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Ohio|14|14}}. Nathan Evans (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Ohio|15|15}}. William F. Hunter (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Ohio|16|16}}. Moses Hoagland (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Ohio|17|17}}. Joseph Cable (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Ohio|18|18}}. David K. Cartter (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Ohio|19|19}}. John Crowell (W) : {{Party stripe|Free Soil Party}}{{ushr|Ohio|20|20}}. Joshua R. Giddings (FS) : {{Party stripe|Free Soil Party}}{{ushr|Ohio|21|21}}. Joseph M. Root (FS)

==== Pennsylvania ==== : {{Party stripe|Know Nothing}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|1|1}}. Lewis C. Levin (A) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|2|2}}. Joseph R. Chandler (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|3|3}}. Henry D. Moore (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|4|4}}. John Robbins Jr. (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|5|5}}. John Freedley (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|6|6}}. Thomas Ross (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|7|7}}. Jesse C. Dickey (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|8|8}}. Thaddeus Stevens (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|9|9}}. William Strong (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|10|10}}. Milo M. Dimmick (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|11|11}}. Chester P. Butler (W), until October 5, 1850 :: {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}John Brisbin (D), from November 13, 1850 : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|12|12}}. David Wilmot (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|13|13}}. Joseph Casey (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|14|14}}. Charles W. Pitman (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|15|15}}. Henry Nes (W), until September 10, 1850 :: {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}Joel B. Danner (D), from December 2, 1850 : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|16|16}}. James X. McLanahan (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|17|17}}. Samuel Calvin (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|18|18}}. Andrew J. Ogle (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|19|19}}. Job Mann (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|20|20}}. Robert R. Reed (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|21|21}}. Moses Hampton (W) : {{Party stripe|Free Soil Party}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|22|22}}. John W. Howe (FS) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|23|23}}. James Thompson (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Pennsylvania|24|24}}. Alfred Gilmore (D)

==== Rhode Island ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Rhode Island|1|1}}. George G. King (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Rhode Island|2|2}}. Nathan F. Dixon Jr. (W)

==== South Carolina ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|South Carolina|1|1}}. Daniel Wallace (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|South Carolina|2|2}}. James L. Orr (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|South Carolina|3|3}}. Joseph A. Woodward (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|South Carolina|4|4}}. John McQueen (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|South Carolina|5|5}}. Armistead Burt (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|South Carolina|6|6}}. Isaac E. Holmes (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|South Carolina|7|7}}. William F. Colcock (D)

==== Tennessee ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Tennessee|1|1}}. Andrew Johnson (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Tennessee|2|2}}. Albert G. Watkins (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Tennessee|3|3}}. Josiah M. Anderson (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Tennessee|4|4}}. John H. Savage (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Tennessee|5|5}}. George W. Jones (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Tennessee|6|6}}. James H. Thomas (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Tennessee|7|7}}. Meredith P. Gentry (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Tennessee|8|8}}. Andrew Ewing (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Tennessee|9|9}}. Isham G. Harris (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Tennessee|10|10}}. Frederick P. Stanton (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Tennessee|11|11}}. Christopher H. Williams (W)

==== Texas ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Texas|1|1}}. David S. Kaufman (D), until January 31, 1851 : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Texas|2|2}}. Volney E. Howard (D)

==== Vermont ==== : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Vermont|1|1}}. William Henry (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Vermont|2|2}}. William Hebard (W) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Vermont|3|3}}. George P. Marsh (W), until May 29, 1849 :: {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}James Meacham (W), from December 3, 1849 : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Vermont|4|4}}. Lucius B. Peck (D)

==== Virginia ==== : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Virginia|1|1}}. John S. Millson (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Virginia|2|2}}. Richard K. Meade (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Virginia|3|3}}. Thomas H. Averett (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Virginia|4|4}}. Thomas S. Bocock (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Virginia|5|5}}. Paulus Powell (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Virginia|6|6}}. James A. Seddon (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Virginia|7|7}}. Thomas H. Bayly (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Virginia|8|8}}. Alexander Holladay (D) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Virginia|9|9}}. Jeremiah Morton (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Virginia|10|10}}. Richard Parker (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Virginia|11|11}}. James McDowell (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Virginia|12|12}}. Henry A. Edmundson (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Virginia|13|13}}. LaFayette McMullen (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Virginia|14|14}}. James M. H. Beale (D) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Virginia|15|15}}. Alexander Newman (D), until September 8, 1849 :: {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}Thomas Haymond (W), from November 8, 1849

==== Wisconsin ==== : {{Party stripe|Free Soil Party}}{{ushr|Wisconsin|1|1}}. Charles Durkee (FS) : {{Party stripe|Whig Party (US)}}{{ushr|Wisconsin|2|2}}. Orasmus Cole (W) : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Wisconsin|3|3}}. James D. Doty (D)

==== Non-voting members ==== : {{0|▌}}{{ushr|Minnesota Territory|AL|Minnesota Territory}}. Henry H. Sibley, from July 7, 1849 : {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{ushr|Oregon Territory|AL|Oregon Territory}}. Samuel Thurston (D) {{col-break}} thumb|400px| {| align=center ! colspan=2 | House seats by party holding plurality in state |- |{{legend|#00f|80+% to 100% Democratic}} |{{legend|#ff9|Up to 60% Whig}} |- |{{legend|#09f|60+% to 80% Democratic}} |{{legend|#ff6|60+% to 80% Whig}} |- |{{legend|#0ff|Up to 60% Democratic}} |{{legend|#ff0|80+% to 100% Whig}} |- |{{legend|#fc9|33% Free Soil Party}} |} [[File:Cobb, Howell2.jpg|thumb|175px|Speaker Howell Cobb]] {{col-end}}

==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'''  {{See also|List of special elections to the United States Senate}} {{Ordinal US Congress change|Senate}}

|- | Illinois (3) | {{party shading/Democratic}} | 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. | {{party shading/Democratic}} | James Shields (D) | Seated December 3, 1849

|- | Maryland (1) | {{party shading/Whig}} | Reverdy Johnson (W) | Resigned March 7, 1849, having been appointed United States Attorney General | {{party shading/Whig}} | David Stewart (W) | Appointed December 6, 1849

|- | Alabama (2) | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Benjamin Fitzpatrick (D) | Sen. Dixon Lewis successor elected November 30, 1849 | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Jeremiah Clemens (D) | Elected November 30, 1849

|- | Maryland (1) | {{party shading/Whig}} | David Stewart (W) | Successor elected January 12, 1850 | {{party shading/Whig}} | Thomas Pratt (W) | Elected January 12, 1850

|- | South Carolina (2) | {{party shading/Democratic}} | John C. Calhoun (D) | Died March 31, 1850 | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Franklin H. Elmore (D) | Appointed April 11, 1850

|- | South Carolina (2) | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Franklin H. Elmore (D) | Died May 29, 1850 | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Robert W. Barnwell (D) | Appointed June 4, 1850

|- | Ohio (1) | {{party shading/Whig}} | Thomas Corwin (W) | Resigned July 20, 1850, after being appointed United States Secretary of the Treasury | {{party shading/Whig}} | Thomas Ewing (W) | Appointed July 20, 1850

|- | Massachusetts (1) | {{party shading/Whig}} | Daniel Webster (W) | Resigned July 22, 1850, after being appointed United States Secretary of State again. | {{party shading/Whig}} | Robert C. Winthrop (W) | Appointed July 30, 1850

|- | California (1) | New state | California admitted to the Union September 9, 1850. The first Senator was elected September 10, 1850. | {{party shading/Democratic}} | John C. Frémont (D) | Elected September 10, 1850

|- | California (3) | New state | California admitted to the Union September 9, 1850. The first Senator was elected September 10, 1850. | {{party shading/Democratic}} | William M. Gwin (D) | Elected September 10, 1850

|- | South Carolina (2) | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Robert W. Barnwell (D) | Successor elected December 18, 1850 | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Robert Rhett (D) | Elected December 18, 1850

|- | Massachusetts (1) | {{party shading/Whig}} | Robert C. Winthrop (W) | Successor elected February 1, 1851 | {{party shading/Democratic}} | 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'''

{{main|List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives}} {{Ordinal US Congress change|House}}

|- | {{ushr|Minnesota Territory|AL|Minnesota Territory At-large}} | Vacant | style="font-size:80%" | Seat remained vacant after territory became organized at end of previous congress | Henry H. Sibley | Seated July 7, 1849 |- | {{ushr|Vermont|3|Vermont 3rd}} | {{party shading/Whig}} | George Perkins Marsh (W) | style="font-size:80%" | Resigned some time in 1849 | {{party shading/Whig}} | James Meacham (W) | Seated December 3, 1849 |- | {{ushr|Ohio|6|Ohio 6th}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Rodolphus Dickinson (D) | style="font-size:80%" | Died March 20, 1849 | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Amos E. Wood (D) | Seated December 3, 1849 |- | {{ushr|Virginia|15|Virginia 15th}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Alexander Newman (D) | style="font-size:80%" | Died September 8, 1849 | {{party shading/Whig}} | Thomas Haymond (W) | Seated November 8, 1849 |- | {{ushr|Georgia|1|Georgia 1st}} | {{party shading/Whig}} | Thomas B. King (W) | style="font-size:80%" | Resigned March 3, 1850 | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Joseph W. Jackson (D) | Seated March 4, 1850 |- | {{ushr|Massachusetts|2|Massachusetts 2nd}} | {{party shading/Whig}} | Daniel P. King (W) | style="font-size:80%" | Died July 25, 1850 | Vacant | Not filled this term |- | {{ushr|Iowa|1|Iowa 1st}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | 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 | {{party shading/Whig}} | Daniel F. Miller (W) | Seated December 20, 1850 |- | {{ushr|Massachusetts|1|Massachusetts 1st}} | {{party shading/Whig}} | Robert C. Winthrop (W) | style="font-size:80%" | Resigned July 30, 1850, after being appointed to the US Senate | {{party shading/Whig}} | Samuel A. Eliot (W) | Seated August 22, 1850 |- | {{ushr|Louisiana|2|Louisiana 2nd}} | {{party shading/Whig}} | Charles M. Conrad (W) | style="font-size:80%" | Resigned August 17, 1850, after being appointed United States Secretary of War | {{party shading/Whig}} | Henry A. Bullard (W) | Seated December 5, 1850 |- | {{ushr|New Hampshire|3|New Hampshire 3rd}} | {{party shading/Whig}} | James Wilson (W) | style="font-size:80%" | Resigned September 9, 1850 | {{party shading/Democratic}} | George W. Morrison (D) | Seated October 8, 1850 |- | {{ushr|California|AL|California At-large}} | colspan=2 style="font-size:80%" | California admitted into the Union September 9, 1850, and seat remained vacant until September 11, 1850 | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Edward Gilbert (D) | Seated September 11, 1850 |- | {{ushr|California|AL|California At-large}} | colspan=2 style="font-size:80%" | California admitted into the Union September 9, 1850, and seat remained vacant until September 11, 1850 | {{party shading/Independent (US)}} | George W. Wright (I) | Seated September 11, 1850 |- | {{ushr|Pennsylvania|15|Pennsylvania 15th}} | {{party shading/Whig}} | Henry Nes (W) | style="font-size:80%" | Died September 10, 1850 | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Joel B. Danner (D) | Seated December 2, 1850 |- | {{ushr|Pennsylvania|11|Pennsylvania 11th}} | {{party shading/Whig}} | Chester P. Butler (W) | style="font-size:80%" | Died October 5, 1850 | {{party shading/Democratic}} | John Brisbin (D) | Seated November 13, 1850 |- | {{ushr|Louisiana|3|Louisiana 3rd}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | John H. Harmanson (D) | style="font-size:80%" | Died October 24, 1850 | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Alexander G. Penn (D) | Seated December 30, 1850 |- | {{ushr|Ohio|6|Ohio 6th}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Amos E. Wood (D) | style="font-size:80%" | Died November 19, 1850 | {{party shading/Whig}} | John Bell (W) | Seated January 7, 1851 |- | {{ushr|Texas|1|Texas 1st}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | David S. Kaufman (D) | style="font-size:80%" | Died January 31, 1851 | Vacant | Not filled this term |}

==Committees== Lists of committees and their party leaders. {{col-begin}} {{col-break}}

===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 {{col-break}}

===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 {{col-end}}

===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 *Sergeant at Arms: Nathan Sargent, until January 15, 1850 ** Adam J. Glossbrenner, from January 15, 1850

== See also == * 1848 United States elections (elections leading to this Congress) ** 1848 United States presidential election ** 1848–49 United States Senate elections ** 1848–49 United States House of Representatives elections * 1850 United States elections (elections during this Congress, leading to the next Congress) ** 1850–51 United States Senate elections ** 1850–51 United States House of Representatives elections

== Notes == {{Notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}} *{{cite book|title = The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress|last = Martis|first = Kenneth C.|year = 1989|publisher = Macmillan Publishing Company|location = New York}} *{{cite book|title = The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts|last = Martis|first = Kenneth C.|year = 1982|publisher = Macmillan Publishing Company|location = New York}}

==External links== *[http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwsllink.html Statutes at Large, 1789-1875] *[http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwsjlink.html Senate Journal, First Forty-three Sessions of Congress] *[http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwhjlink.html#anchor2 House Journal, First Forty-three Sessions of Congress] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060601025644/http://www.gpoaccess.gov/serialset/cdocuments/hd108-222/index.html Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress] *[http://clerk.house.gov/art_history/house_history/index.html U.S. House of Representatives: House History] *[https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/reference/two_column_table/stats_and_lists.htm U.S. Senate: Statistics and Lists] * {{cite book |title=Congressional Directory for the 31st Congress, 1st Session |series = Force's Picture of the city of Washington and its vicinity|year = 1850|publisher = William Q. Force|url= http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044048399836&view=1up&seq=11 }} * {{cite book |title=Congressional Directory for the 31st Congress, 1st Session (1st Revision)|year = 1850|publisher = U.S. Govt. Print. Off., etc.|url= http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433091240253&view=1up&seq=11 }} * {{cite book |title=Congressional Directory for the 31st Congress, 1st Session (2nd Revision)|year = 1850|url= http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101072368499&view=1up&seq=5 }}

Category:31st United States Congress