Federal Government
Congressional Summary
Political Party Strength in the House and Senate

Presidential administrations, especially in the modern era, have depended upon sympathetic majorities in Congress to enact their legislative programs.

If a president's own party controls a single house of Congress, he has a fighting chance to accomplish his goals, but with control in neither the House nor Senate presidential plans seldom go far. Majorities in both houses, of course, vastly increase the prospects of success.

The table below provides the opportunity to observe the growth and decline of party strength in the House and Senate from the Washington administration to the present.

• 1st - 20th Congresses, 1789-1829 (Washington through J.Q. Adams administrations)
• 21st - 40th Congresses, 1829-1869 (Jackson through A. Johnson administrations)
• 41st - 60th Congresses, 1869-1909 (Grant through T. Roosevelt administrations)
• 61st - 80th Congresses, 1909-1949 (Taft to Truman administrations)
• 81st - 100th Congresses, 1949-1989 (Truman through Reagan administrations)
• 101st to present, 1989-today (G.H.W. Bush to the present administration)

Congress	Years	House	Senate	President
1st	1789-1791	Pro 38 Con 26	Pro 17 Con 9	Washington (No Party)
2nd	1791-1793	Fed 37 Dem-Rep 33	Fed 16 Dem-Rep 13	Washington (Federalist)
3rd	1793-1795	Dem-Rep 57 Fed 48	Fed 17 Dem-Rep 13	Washington (Federalist)
4th	1795-1797	Fed 54 Dem-Rep 52	Fed 19 Dem-Rep 13	Washington (Federalist)
5th	1797-1799	Fed 58 Dem-Rep 48	Fed 20 Dem-Rep 12	Adams (Federalist)
6th	1799-1801	Fed 64 Dem-Rep 42	Fed 19 Dem-Rep 13	Adams (Federalist)
7th	1801-1803	Dem-Rep 69 Fed 36	Dem-Rep 18 Fed 13	Jefferson (Dem. Rep.)
8th	1803-1805	Dem-Rep 102 Fed 39	Dem-Rep 25 Fed 9	Jefferson (Dem. Rep.)
9th	1805-1807	Dem-Rep 116 Fed 25	Dem-Rep 27 Fed 7	Jefferson (Dem. Rep.)
10th	1807-1809	Dem-Rep 118 Fed 24	Dem-Rep 28 Fed 6	Jefferson (Dem. Rep.)
11th	1809-1811	Dem-Rep 94 Fed 48	Dem-Rep 28 Fed 6	Madison (Dem. Rep.)
12th	1811-1813	Dem-Rep 108 Fed 36	Dem-Rep 30 Fed 6	Madison (Dem. Rep.)
13th	1813-1815	Dem-Rep 112 Fed 68	Dem-Rep 27 Fed 9	Madison (Dem. Rep.)
14th	1815-1817	Dem-Rep 117 Fed 65	Dem-Rep 25 Fed 11	Madison (Dem. Rep.)
15th	1817-1819	Dem-Rep 141 Fed 42	Dem-Rep 34 Fed 10	Monroe (Dem. Rep.)
16th	1819-1821	Dem-Rep 156 Fed 27	Dem-Rep 35 Fed 7	Monroe (Dem. Rep.)
17th	1821-1823	Dem-Rep 158 Fed 25	Dem-Rep 44 Fed 4	Monroe (Dem. Rep.)
18th	1823-1825	Dem-Rep 187 Fed 26	Dem-Rep 44 Fed 4	Monroe (Dem. Rep.)
19th	1825-1827	JQA 105 AJ 97	JQA 26 AJ 20	J.Q. Adams (Dem. Rep.)
20th	1827-1829	AJ 119 JQA 94	AJ 28 JQA 20	J.Q. Adams (Dem. Rep.)

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Key to Parties at bottom

Congress	Years	House	Senate	President
21st	1829-1831	Dem 139 Natl Rep 74	Dem 26 Natl Rep 22	Jackson (Democrat)
22nd	1831-1833	Dem 141 Natl Rep 58 Other 14	Dem 25 Natl Rep 21 Other 2	Jackson (Democrat)
23rd	1833-1835	Dem 147 Anti-Mas 53 Other 60	Dem 20 Natl Rep 20 Other 8	Jackson (Democrat)
24th	1835-1837	Dem 145 Whig 98	Dem 27 Whig 25	Jackson (Democrat)
25th	1837-1839	Dem 108 Whig 107 Other 24	Dem 30 Whig 18 Other 4	Van Buren (Democrat)
26th	1839-1841	Dem 124 Whig 118	Dem 28 Whig 22	Van Buren (Democrat)
27th	1841-1843	Whig 133 Dem 102 Other 6	Whig 28 Dem 22	W.H. Harrison Tyler (Whig)
28th	1843-1845	Dem 142 Whig 79 Other 1	Whig 28 Dem 25	Tyler (Whig)
29th	1845-1847	Dem 143 Whig 77 Other 6	Dem 31 Whig 25	Polk (Democrat)
30th	1847-1849	Whig 115 Dem 108 Other 4	Dem 36 Whig 21 Other 1	Polk (Democrat)
31st	1849-1851	Dem 112 Whig 109 Other 9	Dem 35 Whig 25 Other 2	Taylor Fillmore (Whig)
32nd	1851-1853	Dem 140 Whig 88 Other 5	Dem 35 Whig 24 Other 3	Fillmore (Whig)
33rd	1853-1855	Dem 159 Whig 71 Other 4	Dem 38 Whig 22 Other 2	Pierce (Democrat)
34th	1855-1857	Rep 108 Dem 83 Other 43	Dem 40 Rep 15 Other 5	Pierce (Democrat)
35th	1857-1859	Dem 118 Rep 92 Other 26	Dem 36 Rep 20 Other 8	Buchanan (Democrat)
36th	1859-1861	Rep 114 Dem 92 Other 31	Dem 36 Rep 26 Other 4	Buchanan (Democrat)
37th	1861-1863	Rep 105 Dem 43 Other 30	Rep 31 Dem 10 Other 8	Lincoln (Republican)
38th	1863-1865	Rep 102 Dem 75 Other 9	Rep 36 Dem 12	Lincoln (Republican)
39th	1865-1867	Union 149 Dem 42	Union 42 Dem 10	Lincoln A. Johnson (Republican)
40th	1867-1869	Rep 143 Dem 49	Rep 42 Dem 11	A. Johnson (Republican)

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Key to Parties at bottom

Congress	Years	House	Senate	President
41st	1869-1871	Rep 149 Dem 63	Rep 56 Dem 11	Grant (Republican)
42nd	1871-1873	Rep 139 Dem 104	Rep 52 Dem 17 Other 5	Grant (Republican)
43rd	1873-1875	Rep 194 Dem 92 Other 14	Rep 49 Dem 19 Other 5	Grant (Republican)
44th	1875-1877	Dem 182 Rep 103 Other 14	Rep 45 Dem 29 Other 2	Grant (Republican)
45th	1877-1879	Dem 155 Rep 136	Rep 39 Dem 36 Other 1	Hayes (Republican)
46th	1879-1881	Dem 141 Rep 132 Other 14	Dem 42 Rep 33 Other 1	Hayes (Republican)
47th	1881-1883	Rep 147 Dem 135 Other 11	Dem 37 Rep 37 Other 1	Garfield Arthur (Republican)
48th	1883-1885	Dem 197 Rep 118 Other 10	Rep 38 Dem 36 Other 2	Arthur (Republican)
49th	1885-1887	Dem 183 Rep 140 Other 2	Rep 43 Dem 34	Cleveland (Democrat)
50th	1887-1889	Dem 169 Rep 152 Other 4	Rep 39 Dem 37	Cleveland (Democrat)
51st	1889-1891	Rep 166 Dem 159	Rep 39 Dem 37	B. Harrison (Republican)
52nd	1891-1893	Dem 235 Rep 188 Other 9	Rep 47 Dem 39 Other 2	B. Harrison (Republican)
53rd	1893-1895	Dem 218 Rep 126 Other 11	Dem 44 Rep 38 Other 3	Cleveland (Democrat)
54th	1895-1897	Rep 244 Dem 105 Other 7	Rep 43 Dem 39 Other 6	Cleveland (Democrat)
55th	1897-1899	Rep 204 Dem 113 Other 40	Rep 47 Dem 34 Other 7	McKinley (Republican)
56th	1899-1901	Rep 185 Dem 163 Other 9	Rep 53 Dem 26 Other 8	McKinley (Republican)
57th	1901-1903	Rep 197 Dem 151 Other 9	Rep 55 Dem 31 Other 4	McKinley T. Roosevelt (Republican)
58th	1903-1905	Rep 208 Dem 178	Rep 57 Dem 33	T. Roosevelt (Republican)
59th	1905-1907	Rep 250 Dem 136	Rep 57 Dem 33	T. Roosevelt (Republican)
60th	1907-1909	Rep 222 Dem 164	Rep 61 Dem 31	T. Roosevelt (Republican)

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Key to Parties at bottom

Congress	Years	House	Senate	President
61st	1909-1911	Rep 219 Dem 172	Rep 61 Dem 32	Taft (Republican)
62nd	1911-1913	Dem 228 Rep 161	Rep 51 Dem 41	Taft (Republican)
63rd	1913-1915	Dem 291 Rep 127 Other 17	Dem 51 Rep 44 Other 1	Wilson (Democrat)
64th	1915-1917	Dem 230 Rep 196 Other 9	Dem 56 Rep 40	Wilson (Democrat)
65th	1917-1919	Dem 216 Rep 210 Other 6	Dem 53 Rep 42	Wilson (Democrat)
66th	1919-1921	Rep 240 Dem 190 Other 3	Rep 49 Dem 47	Wilson (Democrat)
67th	1921-1923	Rep 301 Dem 131 Other 1	Rep 59 Dem 37	Harding (Republican)
68th	1923-1925	Rep 225 Dem 205 Other 5	Rep 51 Dem 43 Other 2	Coolidge (Republican)
69th	1925-1927	Rep 247 Dem 183 Other 4	Rep 56 Dem 39 Other 1	Coolidge (Republican)
70th	1927-1929	Rep 237 Dem 195 Other 3	Rep 49 Dem 46 Other 1	Coolidge (Republican)
71st	1929-1931	Rep 267 Dem 167 Other 1	Rep 56 Dem 39 Other 1	Hoover (Republican)
72nd	1931-1333	Dem 220 Rep 214 Other 1	Rep 48 Dem 47 Other 1	Hoover (Republican)
73rd	1933-1935	Dem 310 Rep 117 Other 5	Dem 60 Rep 35 Other 1	F. Roosevelt (Democrat)
74th	1935-1937	Dem 319 Rep 103 Other 10	Dem 69 Rep 25 Other 2	F. Roosevelt (Democrat)
75th	1937-1939	Dem 331 Rep 89 Other 13	Dem 76 Rep 16 Other 4	F. Roosevelt (Democrat)
76th	1939-1941	Dem 261 Rep 164 Other 4	Dem 69 Rep 23 Other 4	F. Roosevelt (Democrat)
77th	1941-1943	Dem 268 Rep 162 Other 5	Dem 66 Rep 28 Other 2	F. Roosevelt (Democrat)
78th	1943-1945	Dem 218 Rep 208 Other 4	Dem 58 Rep 37 Other 1	F. Roosevelt (Democrat)
79th	1945-1947	Dem 242 Rep 190 Other 2	Dem 56 Rep 38 Other 1	F. Roosevelt Truman (Democrat)
80th	1947-1949	Rep 245 Dem 188 Other 1	Rep 51 Dem 45	Truman (Democrat)

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Key to Parties at bottom

Congress	Years	House	Senate	President
81st	1949-1951	Dem 263 Rep 171 Other 1	Dem 54 Rep 42	Truman (Democrat)
82nd	1951-1953	Dem 234 Rep 199 Other 1	Dem 49 Rep 47	Truman (Democrat)
83rd	1953-1955	Rep 221 Dem 211 Other 1	Rep 48 Dem 47 Other 1	Eisenhower (Republican)
84th	1955-1957	Dem 232 Rep 203	Dem 48 Rep 47 Other 1	Eisenhower (Republican)
85th	1957-1959	Dem 233 Rep 200	Dem 49 Rep 47 Other 1	Eisenhower (Republican)
86th	1959-1961	Dem 284 Rep 153	Dem 65 Rep 35 Other 1	Eisenhower (Republican)
87th	1961-1963	Dem 263 Rep 174	Dem 65 Rep 35 Other 1	Kennedy (Democrat)
88th	1963-1965	Dem 258 Rep 117	Dem 67 Rep 33 Other 1	Kennedy L. Johnson (Democrat)
89th	1965-1967	Dem 295 Rep 140	Dem 68 Rep 32 Other 1	L. Johnson (Democrat)
90th	1967-1969	Dem 246 Rep 187	Dem 64 Rep 36 Other 1	L. Johnson (Democrat)
91st	1969-1971	Dem 245 Rep 189	Dem 57 Rep 43	Nixon (Republican)
92nd	1971-1973	Dem 254 Rep 180	Dem 54 Rep 44 Other 2	Nixon (Republican)
93rd	1973-1975	Dem 239 Rep 191 Other 1	Dem 56 Rep 42 Other 2	Nixon (Republican)
94th	1975-1977	Dem 291 Rep 144	Dem 60 Rep 37 Other 3	Ford (Republican)
95th	1977-1979	Dem 292 Rep 143	Dem 61 Rep 38 Other 1	Carter (Democrat)
96th	1979-1981	Dem 276 Rep 157	Dem 58 Rep 41 Other 1	Carter (Democrat)
97th	1981-1983	Dem 243 Rep 192	Rep 53 Dem 46 Other 1	Reagan (Republican)
98th	1983-1985	Dem 267 Rep 168	Rep 55 Dem 45	Reagan (Republican)
99th	1985-1987	Dem 253 Rep 182	Rep 53 Dem 47	Reagan (Republican)
100th	1987-1989	Dem 258 Rep 177	Dem 55 Rep 45	Reagan (Republican)

Congress	Years	House	Senate	President
101st	1989-1991	Dem 260 Rep 175	Dem 55 Rep 45	G.H.W. Bush (Republican)
102nd	1991-1993	Dem 267 Rep 167 Other 1	Dem 56 Rep 44	G.H.W. Bush (Republican)
103rd	1993-1995	Dem 258 Rep 176 Other 1	Dem 57 Rep 43	Clinton (Democrat)
104th	1995-1997	Rep 230 Dem 204 Other 1	Rep 52 Dem 48	Clinton (Democrat)
105th	1997-1999	Rep 228 Dem 206 Other 1	Rep 55 Dem 45	Clinton (Democrat)
106th	1999-2001	Rep 222 Dem 211 Other 1	Rep 55 Dem 45	Clinton (Democrat)
107th	2001-2003	Rep 221 Dem 212 Other 2	Dem 50 Rep 49 Other 1	G.W. Bush (Republican)
108th	2003-2005	Rep 228 Dem 204 Other 3	Rep 51 Dem 48 Other 1	G.W. Bush (Republican)
109th	2005-2007	Rep 231 Dem 201 Other 3	Rep 55 Dem 44 Other 1	G.W. Bush (Republican)

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