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There are a variety of means for members to vote on bills, including systems using lights and bells and electronic voting. [13] Most votes, including quorum votes, are done electronically, and allow members to vote "yea" or "nay" or "present". [13] They light up when the vote is in process. [13]
The 1st United States Congress, comprising the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, met from March 4, 1789, to March 4, 1791, during the first two years of George Washington's presidency, first at Federal Hall in New York City and later at Congress Hall in Philadelphia.
The requisite quorum (thirty members out of fifty-nine) was not present until April 1, 1789. The first order of business was the election of a Speaker of the House. On the first ballot, Frederick Muhlenberg was elected Speaker by a majority of votes. The business of the first session was largely devoted to legislative procedure rather than policy.
While the proscription on using electronic devices is more recent, some of the current House Rules originated in the early sessions of Congress. After independence, members of Congress would often wear their hats, as was the custom in the British Parliament, however this custom was abolished in the House of Representatives in 1837. [6]
Congress [c] has a total of 535 voting members, a figure which includes 100 senators and 435 representatives; the House of Representatives has 6 additional non-voting members. The vice president of the United States, as President of the Senate, has a vote in the Senate only when there is a tie. [3]
Congress is gathering for a joint session to certify the results of the 2024 election, the final step before President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, after some major changes to ...
The 119th Congress convenes with new members being sworn in. Republicans hold a narrow majority of 219-215 in the House. The Senate majority is 53-47, well below the 60-vote threshold needed to ...
This is a list of the several United States Congresses, since their beginning in 1789, including their beginnings, endings, and the dates of their individual sessions. Each elected bicameral Congress (of the two chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives ) lasts for two years and begins on January 3 of odd-numbered years.