Political_power_in_the_United_States_over_time

Party divisions of United States Congresses

Overview of the party divisions of United States Congresses

Party divisions of United States Congresses have played a central role on the organization and operations of both chambers of the United States Congress—the Senate and the House of Representatives—since its establishment as the bicameral legislature of the Federal government of the United States in 1789. Political parties had not been anticipated when the U.S. Constitution was drafted in 1787, nor did they exist at the time the first Senate elections and House elections occurred in 1788 and 1789. Organized political parties developed in the U.S. in the 1790s, but political factions—from which organized parties evolved—began to appear almost immediately after the 1st Congress convened. Those who supported the Washington administration were referred to as "pro-administration" and would eventually form the Federalist Party, while those in opposition joined the emerging Democratic-Republican Party.^[1]

Control of the Congress from 1855 to 2025

Popular vote and house seats won by party

Party divisions by Congress

The following table lists the party divisions for each United States Congress. Note that numbers in boldface denote the majority party at that particular time while italicized numbers signify a Congress in which the majority party changed intra-term.

More information Congress, Years ...

Congress	Years	Senate						House of Representatives					President	Trifecta
Congress	Years	Total	Anti- Admin^[2]	Pro- Admin^[3]	Others	Vacancies		Total	Anti- Admin	Pro- Admin	Others	Vacancies	President	Trifecta
1st	1789–1791	26	8	18	—	—		65	28	37	—	—	George Washington	Yes^[4]
2nd	1791–1793	30	13	16	—	1		69	30	39	—	—		Yes^[4]
3rd	1793–1795	30	14	16	—	—		105	54	51	—	—		No
Congress	Years	Total	Democratic- Republicans	Federalists	Others	Vacancies		Total	Democratic- Republicans	Federalists	Others	Vacancies	President	Trifecta
4th	1795–1797	32	11	21	—	—		106	59	47	—	—	George Washington^[5]	No
5th	1797–1799	32	10	22	—	—		106	49	57	—	—	John Adams	Yes
6th	1799–1801	32	10	22	—	—		106	46	60	—	—	John Adams	Yes
7th	1801–1803	34	17	15	—	2		107	68	38	—	1	Thomas Jefferson	Yes
8th	1803–1805	34	25	9	—	—		142	103	39	—	—		Yes
9th	1805–1807	34	27	7	—	—		142	114	28	—	—		Yes
10th	1807–1809	34	28	6	—	—		142	116	26	—	—		Yes
11th	1809–1811	34	27	7	—	—		142	92	50	—	—	James Madison	Yes
12th	1811–1813	36	30	6	—	—		143	107	36	—	—		Yes
13th	1813–1815	36	28	8	—	—		182	114	68	—	—		Yes
14th	1815–1817	38	26	12	—	—		183	119	64	—	—		Yes
15th	1817–1819	42	30	12	—	—		185	146	39	—	—	James Monroe	Yes
16th	1819–1821	46	37	9	—	—		186	160	26	—	—		Yes
17th	1821–1823	48	44	4	—	—		187	155	32	—	—		Yes
18th	1823–1825	48	43	5	—	—		213	189	24	—	—		Yes
Congress	Years	Total	Jacksonian^[6]	Anti-Jackson^[6]	Others	Vacancies		Total	Jacksonian^[6]	Anti-Jackson^[6]	Others	Vacancies	President	Trifecta
19th	1825–1827	48	26	22	—	—		213	104	109	—	—	John Quincy Adams^[7]	No
20th	1827–1829	48	27	21	—	—		213	113	100	—	—	John Quincy Adams^[7]	No
21st	1829–1831	48	25	23	—	—		213	136	72	5	—	Andrew Jackson	Yes
22nd	1831–1833	48	24	22	2	—		213	126	66	21	—		Yes
23rd	1833–1835	48	20	26	2	—		240	143	63	34	—		No
24th	1835–1837	52	26	24	2	—		242	143	75	24	—		Yes
Congress	Years	Total	Democrats	Whigs	Others	Vacancies		Total	Democrats	Whigs	Others	Vacancies	President	Trifecta
25th	1837–1839	52	35	17	—	—		242	128	100	14	—	Martin Van Buren	Yes
26th	1839–1841	52	30	22	—	—		242	125	109	8	—	Martin Van Buren	Yes
27th	1841–1843	52	22	29	—	1		242	98	142	2	—	John Tyler^[8]	Yes/No^[9]
28th	1843–1845	52	23	29	—	—		223	147	72	4	—	John Tyler^[8]	No
29th	1845–1847	58	34	22	—	2		228	142	79	7	—	James K. Polk	Yes
30th	1847–1849	60	38	21	1	—		230	110	116	4	—	James K. Polk	No
31st	1849–1851	62	35	25	2	—		233	113	108	11	1	Zachary Taylor^[10]	No
32nd	1851–1853	62	36	23	3	—		233	127	85	21	—	Millard Fillmore	No
33rd	1853–1855	62	38	22	2	—		234	157	71	6	—	Franklin Pierce	Yes
Congress	Years	Total	Democrats	Opposition^[11]	Others	Vacancies		Total	Democrats	Opposition	Others	Vacancies	President	Trifecta
34th	1855–1857	62	39	21	2	—		234	83	100	51	—	Franklin Pierce	No
Congress	Years	Total	Democrats	Republicans	Others	Vacancies		Total	Democrats	Republicans	Others	Vacancies	President	Trifecta
35th	1857–1859	64	39	20	5	—		237	131	94	13	—	James Buchanan	Yes
36th	1859–1861	66	38	26	2	—		237	101	113	23	—	James Buchanan	No
37th	1861–1863	50	11	31	7	1		178	42	106	28	2	Abraham Lincoln^[12]	Yes
38th	1863–1865	51	12	29	—	—		183	80	103	—	—	Abraham Lincoln^[12]	Yes
39th	1865–1867	52	10	42	—	—		191	46	145	—	—	Andrew Johnson^[13]	Yes/No^[14]
40th	1867–1869	53	11	42	—	—		193	49	143	—	1	Andrew Johnson^[13]	No
41st	1869–1871	74	11	61	—	2		243	73	170	—	—	Ulysses S. Grant	Yes
42nd	1871–1873	74	17	57	—	—		243	104	136	3	—		Yes
43rd	1873–1875	74	19	54	—	1		293	88	203	—	2		Yes
44th	1875–1877	76	29	46	—	1		293	181	107	3	2		No
45th	1877–1879	76	36	39	1	—		293	156	137	—	—	Rutherford B. Hayes	No
46th	1879–1881	76	43	33	—	—		293	150	128	14	1	Rutherford B. Hayes	No
47th	1881–1883	76^[15]	37	37	2	—		293	130	152	11	—	Chester A. Arthur^[16]	No
48th	1883–1885	76	36	40	—	—		325	200	119	6	—	Chester A. Arthur^[16]	No
49th	1885–1887	76	34	41	—	1		325	182	140	2	1	Grover Cleveland	No
50th	1887–1889	76	37	39	—	—		325	170	151	4	—	Grover Cleveland	No
51st	1889–1891	84	37	47	—	—		330	156	173	1	—	Benjamin Harrison	Yes
52nd	1891–1893	88	39	47	2	—		333	231	88	14	—	Benjamin Harrison	No
53rd	1893–1895	88	44	38	3	3		356	220	126	10	—	Grover Cleveland	Yes
54th	1895–1897	88	39	44	5	—		357	104	246	7	—	Grover Cleveland	No
55th	1897–1899	90	34	46	10	—		357	134	206	16	1	William McKinley^[17]	Yes
56th	1899–1901	90	26	53	11	—		357	163	185	9	—	William McKinley^[17]	Yes
57th	1901–1903	90	29	56	3	2		357	153	198	5	1	Theodore Roosevelt	Yes
58th	1903–1905	90	32	58	—	—	386	178	207	—	1	Yes
59th	1905–1907	90	32	58	—	—	386	136	250	—	—	Yes
60th	1907–1909	92	29	61	—	2	386	164	222	—	—	Yes
61st	1909–1911	92	32	59	—	1	391	172	219	—	—	William H. Taft	Yes
62nd	1911–1913	92	42	49	—	1	391	228	162	1	—	William H. Taft	No
63rd	1913–1915	96	51	44	1	—	435	290	127	18	—	Woodrow Wilson	Yes
64th	1915–1917	96	56	39	1	—	435	231	193	8	3		Yes
65th	1917–1919	96	53	42	1	—	435	210	216	9^[18]	—		Yes
66th	1919–1921	96	47	48	1	—	435	191	237	7	—		No
67th	1921–1923	96	37	59	—	—	435	132	300	1	2	Warren G. Harding^[19]	Yes
68th	1923–1925	96	43	51	2	—	435	207	225	3	—	Calvin Coolidge	Yes
69th	1925–1927	96	40	54	1	1	435	183	247	5	—		Yes
70th	1927–1929	96	47	48	1	—	435	195	237	3	—		Yes
71st	1929–1931	96	39	56	1	—	435	163	267	1	4	Herbert Hoover	Yes
72nd	1931–1933	96	47	48	1	—	435	217	217	1	—	Herbert Hoover	No
73rd	1933–1935	96	59	36	1	—	435	313	117	5	—	Franklin D. Roosevelt^[20]	Yes
74th	1935–1937	96	69	25	2	—	435	322	103	10	—		Yes
75th	1937–1939	96	76	16	4	—	435	333	89	13	—		Yes
76th	1939–1941	96	69	23	4	—	435	261	169	5	—		Yes
77th	1941–1943	96	66	28	2	—	435	268	162	5	—		Yes
78th	1943–1945	96	57	38	1	—	435	222	209	4	—		Yes
79th	1945–1947	96	57	38	1	—	435	243	190	2	—	Harry S. Truman	Yes
80th	1947–1949	96	45	51	—	—	435	188	246	1	—		No
81st	1949–1951	96	54	42	—	—	435	262	171	2	—		Yes
82nd	1951–1953	96	48	47	1	—	435	235	199	1	—		Yes
83rd	1953–1955	96	46	48	2	—	435	213	221	1	—	Dwight D. Eisenhower	Yes^[21]
84th	1955–1957	96	48	47	1	—	435	232	203	—	—		No
85th	1957–1959	96	49	47	—	—	435	234	201	—	—		No
86th	1959–1961	98	64	34	—	—	437	284	153	—	—		No
87th	1961–1963	100	64	36	—	—	437	262	175	—	—	John F. Kennedy^[22]	Yes^[23]
88th	1963–1965	100	67	33	—	—	435	258	176	—	1	Lyndon B. Johnson	Yes
89th	1965–1967	100	68	32	—	—	435	295	140	—	—		Yes
90th	1967–1969	100	64	36	—	—	435	247	187	—	1		Yes
91st	1969–1971	100	58	42	—	—	435	243	192	—	—	Richard Nixon^[24]	No^[25]
92nd	1971–1973	100	54	44	2	—	435	255	180	—	—	Richard Nixon^[24]	No
93rd	1973–1975	100	56	42	2	—	435	243	192	—	—	Gerald Ford	No
94th	1975–1977	100	61	37	2	—	435	291	144	—	—	Gerald Ford	No
95th	1977–1979	100	61	38	1	—	435	292	143	—	—	Jimmy Carter	Yes^[23]
96th	1979–1981	100	58	41	1	—	435	277	157	1^[26]	—	Jimmy Carter	Yes
97th	1981–1983	100	46	53	1	—	435	242	192	1^[26]	—	Ronald Reagan	No
98th	1983–1985	100	46/45	54/55	—	—	435	269	165	1^[26]	—		No
99th	1985–1987	100	47	53	—	—	435	253	181	1^[27]	—		No
100th	1987–1989	100	55	45	—	—	435	258	177	—	—		No
101st	1989–1991	100	55	45	—	—	435	260	175	—	—	George H. W. Bush	No
102nd	1991–1993	100	56	44	—	—	435	267	167	1^[28]	—	George H. W. Bush	No
103rd	1993–1995	100	57	43	—	—	435	258	176	1^[28]	—	Bill Clinton	Yes^[23]
104th	1995–1997	100	47	53	—	—	435	204	230	1^[28]	—		No
105th	1997–1999	100	45	55	—	—	435	206	227	2^[29]	—		No
106th	1999–2001	100	45	55	—	—	435	211	223	1^[28]	—		No
107th	2001–2003	100	50^[30]	50/49^[31]	0/1^[32]	—	435	212	221	2^[33]	—	George W. Bush	Yes/No^[34]
108th	2003–2005	100	48	51	1^[32]	—	435	205	229	1^[28]	—		Yes
109th	2005–2007	100	44	55	1^[32]	—	435	202	232	1^[28]	—		Yes
110th	2007–2009	100	49	49	2^[35]	—	435	233	202	—	—		No
111th	2009–2011	100	56–58^[36]	40–42^[37]	2^[35]	—	435	257	178	—	—	Barack Obama	Yes^[23]
112th	2011–2013	100	51	47	2^[35]	—	435	193	242	—	—		No
113th	2013–2015	100	53	45	2^[35]	—	435	201	234	—	—		No
114th	2015–2017	100	44	54	2^[35]	—	435	188	247	—	—		No
115th	2017–2019	100	46/47	50–52	2^[35]	—	435	194	241	—	—	Donald Trump	Yes^[21]
116th	2019–2021	100	45/46	53/52	2^[35]	—	435	235	200	—	—	Donald Trump	No
117th	2021–2023	100	46–48^[38]	51/50^[39]	2/3^[40]	—	435	222	213	—	—	Joe Biden	Yes^[41]
118th	2023–2025	100	48	49	3^[42]	—	435	213	221	—	1^[43]	Joe Biden	No
Congress	Years	Total	Democrats	Republicans	Others	Vacancies	Total	Democrats	Republicans	Others	Vacancies	President	Trifecta
Congress	Years	Senate					House of Representatives					President	Trifecta

References

[1]
U.S. Senate: Party Divisions
[2]
The Anti-Administration Party was not a formal political party but rather a faction opposed to the policies of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton. The faction eventually coalesced into the Democratic-Republican Party.
[3]
The Pro-Administration Party was not a formal political party but rather a faction supportive of the policies of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton. The faction eventually coalesced into the Federalist Party.
[4]
Though Washington never formally joined a party, he was broadly sympathetic to the coalition which later became the Federalist Party.
[5]
Washington disapproved of formal political parties and refused to join either party, though he became a symbol of the Federalist Party.
[6]
The Democratic-Republican Party broke up into two competing parties during the 1820s, but there is no official date of dissolution for the Democratic-Republicans. During the presidency of John Quincy Adams, Congress became divided between a group that favored Adams and a group that favored Andrew Jackson. After Adams left office, Congress was divided into a group that supported the Jackson administration and a group that opposed it. During Jackson's presidency, the pro-Jackson group coalesced into the Democratic Party, while the anti-Jackson group (which included the National Republican Party) joined with the Anti-Masonic Party and other groups to form the Whig Party.
[7]
Adams won election as a Democratic-Republican, but he sought re-election as a National Republican.
[8]
Whig President William Henry Harrison died April 4, 1841, one month into his term, and was succeeded by John Tyler, who served for the remainder of the term. Tyler had been elected as vice president on the Whig ticket, but he became an independent after the Whigs expelled him from the party on September 13, 1841.
[9]
Whigs held their only trifecta from March 4, 1841, until later that year when the Whigs expelled Tyler from the party on September 13 and he became an Independent.
[10]
President Taylor died July 9, 1850, about one year and four months into the term, and was succeeded by Millard Fillmore, who served for the remainder of the term.
[11]
The "Opposition Party" was the congressional coalition formed by former Whigs and members of the nascent Republican Party. The Opposition Party opposed the Democratic Party in the aftermath of the collapse of the Whig Party.
[12]
President Lincoln was assassinated and died April 15, 1865, about a month after beginning his second term as president. He was succeeded by Democrat Andrew Johnson, who served the remainder of the term.
[13]
Johnson was elected as vice president on the National Union ticket, but was a Democrat prior to the 1864 election.
[14]
Republicans had a trifecta until March 4, 1865, when President Lincoln was inaugurated for his second term having run under the National Union Party. Though he was not elected as a Republican, Lincoln practically enabled the Republican Party to have a trifecta until April 15, 1865, when he was assassinated. Once Lincoln's Vice President Andrew Johnson, who was a Democrat prior to the 1864 election, succeeded to the Presidency, Johnson broke the Republican Party's practical trifecta
[15]
Neither party controlled the Senate in the 47th Congress in what's known as the "Great Senate Deadlock of 1881." "The Great Senate Deadlock of 1881". Senate.gov. US Senate. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
[16]
James A. Garfield died September 23, 1881, roughly six months into his term. He was succeeded by Chester Arthur, who served for the remainder of the term.
[17]
McKinley died September 14, 1901, about six months into his second term, and was succeeded by Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt served for the remainder of the term and was elected president in 1904.
[18]
The Democratic Party controlled the House in coalition with the Progressive Party and the Socialist Party. The lone congressional member of the Prohibition Party was not a part of this coalition.
[19]
President Harding died August 2, 1923, about two years and five months after becoming president, and was succeeded by vice-president Calvin Coolidge. Coolidge served for the remainder of the term and was subsequently elected president in 1924.
[20]
Roosevelt died April 12, 1945, about three months into his fourth term as president, and was succeeded by Harry S. Truman. Truman served the remainder of the term and was elected president in 1948.
[21]
According to the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the new session of Congress begins on the 3rd of January, while the new presidency begins on the 20th of January. For the first seventeen days of this Congress, both the House of Representatives and the Senate were held by Republican Party, while the outgoing President was of the Democratic Party. After these seventeen days, the Republican Party had a trifecta.
[22]
Kennedy died November 22, 1963, about two years and ten months into the term, and was succeeded by Lyndon B. Johnson. Johnson served the remainder of the term and was elected president in 1964.
[23]
According to the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the new session of Congress begins on the 3rd of January, while the new presidency begins on the 20th of January. For the first seventeen days of this Congress, both the House of Representatives and the Senate were held by the Democratic Party, while the outgoing President was of the Republican Party. After these seventeen days, the Democratic Party had a trifecta.
[24]
Nixon resigned August 9, 1974, about a year and seven months into his second term as president, and was succeeded by Gerald R. Ford, who served for the remainder of the term.
[25]
According to the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the new session of Congress begins on the 3rd of January, while the new presidency begins on the 20th of January. For the first seventeen days of this Congress, the Democratic Party had a trifecta. After these seventeen days, both the House of Representatives and the Senate were held by the Democratic Party, while the President Nixon was of the Republican Party.
[26]
In the 96th, 97th, and 98th Congresses, the only Conservative member of the House, William Carney of New York, caucused with the Republican Party.
[27]
Carney was elected as a Conservative but caucused with Republicans until October 1985, when he joined the Republican Party.
[28]
In the 102nd through 109th Congresses, Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont's at-large congressional district caucused with the Democratic Party.
[29]
In the 102nd through 109th Congresses, Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont caucused with the Democratic Party. Independent Jo Ann Emerson switched to the Republican party on January 8, 1997.
[30]
The Democratic Party controlled the Senate in the 107th Congress from January 3 to January 20, 2001 (50-50 tie with Democratic Vice President Al Gore as the deciding vote) and from May 24, 2001, to January 3, 2003 (after Senator Jim Jeffords left the Republican Party to become an Independent and caucus with the Democrats).
[31]
The Republican Party controlled the Senate in the 107th Congress from January 20, 2001 (50-50 tie with Republican Vice President Dick Cheney as the deciding vote) until May 24, 2001, when Senator Jim Jeffords left the Republican Party to become an Independent and caucus with the Democrats.
[32]
In the 107th Congress (after May 24, 2001), and in the 108th Congress and 109th Congress, Independent Jim Jeffords of Vermont caucused with the Democratic Party.
[33]
In the 102nd through 109th Congresses, Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont caucused with the Democratic Party. Independent Virgil Goode switched to the Republican party on August 1, 2002.
[34]
Republicans only held a trifecta from January 20 until May 24, 2001, when Senator Jim Jeffords left the Republican Party to become an Independent and caucus with the Democrats.
[35]
From the 110th Congress to the 117th Congress, two independent members of the Senate caucused with the Democratic Party, and thus are considered to be a part of the Senate Democratic Caucus. In the 110th, 111th, and 112th Congresses, it was Joseph Lieberman and Bernie Sanders. In the 113th, 114th, 115th, 116th, and 117th Congresses, it was Angus King and Bernie Sanders.
[36]
From January 27 to April 28, 2009, when Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania) joined the Democratic caucus, there were 56 Democratic senators, 41 Republicans, two independents, and one undecided seat in Minnesota. That vacancy was filled as an additional Democratic seat on July 7, 2009, with the swearing-in of Al Franken, bringing the totals to 58 Democrats, 40 Republicans, and 2 independents. Seven weeks later, on August 25, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) died, lowering the Democratic total to 57 for a month until Paul G. Kirk Jr. (D) was appointed and sworn in as Senator Kennedy's interim replacement on September 25, 2009. Just over four months later, on February 4, 2010, Scott Brown (R) who had won a special election for the seat, succeeded Paul Kirk, returning the Republican caucus to 41, and again reducing the Democratic caucus to 57 plus two independents. [The Democratic caucus dropped again briefly to 56 in the 18 days between the death of Sen. Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia) on June 28, 2010, and the seating of his interim successor, Carte Goodwin (also D) on July 16.] The appointed Democratic senator from Illinois, Roland Burris was succeeded on November 29, 2010, by Mark Kirk, a Republican elected earlier that month, once again dropping the Democratic caucus to 56 with 2 independents facing 42 Republicans for the last month of the 111th Congress. December 2011 Congressional Directory, page 324
[37]
From January 3 to April 28, 2009, prior to Senator Arlen Specter's switch to the Democratic Party, there were 41 Republican senators. The Republican caucus returned to 41 on February 4, 2010, with the swearing in of Scott Brown (R-Mass.) to fill the Democratic seat of Edward Kennedy and Paul Kirk. After Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) replaced Roland Burris as senator from Illinois on November 29, 2010, the Senate in the last month of the 111th Congress stood at 42 Republicans, 56 Democrats, and 2 independents.
[38]
The Democratic Party took control of the Senate in the 117th Congress with the swearing in of Democratic senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff on January 20, 2021. With the two Independent senators (Bernie Sanders and Angus King) caucusing with the Democrats to create a 50-50 tie, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris became the deciding vote to give Democrats the majority.
[39]
The Republican Party controlled the Senate in the 117th Congress from January 3 to January 20, 2021.
[40]
In the 117th Congress, Angus King and Bernie Sanders continued to serve as Independent Democrats, and Democratic senator Kyrsten Sinema switched to join them on December 9th, 2022.
[41]
Due to Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock (who defeated Republicans David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in the Georgia special elections and their runoffs) not being inaugurated until January 20 (the same day which Joe Biden was inaugurated President), the Republicans held the Presidency and the Senate until Biden, Ossoff, and Warnock were all sworn in, at which time the Democratic Party obtained a trifecta.
[42]
Three independent members of the Senate, Angus King, Bernie Sanders, and Kyrsten Sinema, caucused with the Democratic Party, and thus are considered to be a part of the Senate Democratic Caucus.
[43]
During the 118th Congress, George Santos (R-NY3) was expelled by a vote of 311 to 114 on the first of December, 2023.
[44]
The beginning of Lincoln's second term and of George W. Bush's first term began with a trifecta for the Republican Party but ended very shortly after beginning.
[45]
The beginning of William Harrison's term began as a trifecta for the Whigs. It continued after Harrison's death when Tyler became President, but ended shortly after once the Whig Party expelled Tyler into becoming an independent.
[46]
The Democrats and Republicans shared control of the Senate in the 47th United States Congress. In the middle of the 107th United States Congress, control of the Senate switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party.
[47]
During the 27th Congress, the Whigs expelled the sitting president, John Tyler, from their party. Tyler governed as an independent.

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[1] [1]
U.S. Senate: Party Divisions

[2] [2]
The Anti-Administration Party was not a formal political party but rather a faction opposed to the policies of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton. The faction eventually coalesced into the Democratic-Republican Party.

[3] [3]
The Pro-Administration Party was not a formal political party but rather a faction supportive of the policies of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton. The faction eventually coalesced into the Federalist Party.

[Washington's_trifecta-4] [4]
Though Washington never formally joined a party, he was broadly sympathetic to the coalition which later became the Federalist Party.

[5] [5]
Washington disapproved of formal political parties and refused to join either party, though he became a symbol of the Federalist Party.

[adamsjackson-6] [6]
The Democratic-Republican Party broke up into two competing parties during the 1820s, but there is no official date of dissolution for the Democratic-Republicans. During the presidency of John Quincy Adams, Congress became divided between a group that favored Adams and a group that favored Andrew Jackson. After Adams left office, Congress was divided into a group that supported the Jackson administration and a group that opposed it. During Jackson's presidency, the pro-Jackson group coalesced into the Democratic Party, while the anti-Jackson group (which included the National Republican Party) joined with the Anti-Masonic Party and other groups to form the Whig Party.

[7] [7]
Adams won election as a Democratic-Republican, but he sought re-election as a National Republican.

[8] [8]
Whig President William Henry Harrison died April 4, 1841, one month into his term, and was succeeded by John Tyler, who served for the remainder of the term. Tyler had been elected as vice president on the Whig ticket, but he became an independent after the Whigs expelled him from the party on September 13, 1841.

[9] [9]
Whigs held their only trifecta from March 4, 1841, until later that year when the Whigs expelled Tyler from the party on September 13 and he became an Independent.

[10] [10]
President Taylor died July 9, 1850, about one year and four months into the term, and was succeeded by Millard Fillmore, who served for the remainder of the term.

[11] [11]
The "Opposition Party" was the congressional coalition formed by former Whigs and members of the nascent Republican Party. The Opposition Party opposed the Democratic Party in the aftermath of the collapse of the Whig Party.

[12] [12]
President Lincoln was assassinated and died April 15, 1865, about a month after beginning his second term as president. He was succeeded by Democrat Andrew Johnson, who served the remainder of the term.

[13] [13]
Johnson was elected as vice president on the National Union ticket, but was a Democrat prior to the 1864 election.

[14] [14]
Republicans had a trifecta until March 4, 1865, when President Lincoln was inaugurated for his second term having run under the National Union Party. Though he was not elected as a Republican, Lincoln practically enabled the Republican Party to have a trifecta until April 15, 1865, when he was assassinated. Once Lincoln's Vice President Andrew Johnson, who was a Democrat prior to the 1864 election, succeeded to the Presidency, Johnson broke the Republican Party's practical trifecta

[Deadlock-15] [15]
Neither party controlled the Senate in the 47th Congress in what's known as the "Great Senate Deadlock of 1881." "The Great Senate Deadlock of 1881". Senate.gov. US Senate. Retrieved 1 July 2014.

[16] [16]
James A. Garfield died September 23, 1881, roughly six months into his term. He was succeeded by Chester Arthur, who served for the remainder of the term.

[17] [17]
McKinley died September 14, 1901, about six months into his second term, and was succeeded by Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt served for the remainder of the term and was elected president in 1904.

[18] [18]
The Democratic Party controlled the House in coalition with the Progressive Party and the Socialist Party. The lone congressional member of the Prohibition Party was not a part of this coalition.

[19] [19]
President Harding died August 2, 1923, about two years and five months after becoming president, and was succeeded by vice-president Calvin Coolidge. Coolidge served for the remainder of the term and was subsequently elected president in 1924.

[20] [20]
Roosevelt died April 12, 1945, about three months into his fourth term as president, and was succeeded by Harry S. Truman. Truman served the remainder of the term and was elected president in 1948.

[20th_Amendment_Republican-21] [21]
According to the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the new session of Congress begins on the 3rd of January, while the new presidency begins on the 20th of January. For the first seventeen days of this Congress, both the House of Representatives and the Senate were held by Republican Party, while the outgoing President was of the Democratic Party. After these seventeen days, the Republican Party had a trifecta.

[22] [22]
Kennedy died November 22, 1963, about two years and ten months into the term, and was succeeded by Lyndon B. Johnson. Johnson served the remainder of the term and was elected president in 1964.

[20th_Amendment_Democratic-23] [23]
According to the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the new session of Congress begins on the 3rd of January, while the new presidency begins on the 20th of January. For the first seventeen days of this Congress, both the House of Representatives and the Senate were held by the Democratic Party, while the outgoing President was of the Republican Party. After these seventeen days, the Democratic Party had a trifecta.

[24] [24]
Nixon resigned August 9, 1974, about a year and seven months into his second term as president, and was succeeded by Gerald R. Ford, who served for the remainder of the term.

[25] [25]
According to the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the new session of Congress begins on the 3rd of January, while the new presidency begins on the 20th of January. For the first seventeen days of this Congress, the Democratic Party had a trifecta. After these seventeen days, both the House of Representatives and the Senate were held by the Democratic Party, while the President Nixon was of the Republican Party.

[96-98-26] [26]
In the 96th, 97th, and 98th Congresses, the only Conservative member of the House, William Carney of New York, caucused with the Republican Party.

[27] [27]
Carney was elected as a Conservative but caucused with Republicans until October 1985, when he joined the Republican Party.

[SandersRep-28] [28]
In the 102nd through 109th Congresses, Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont's at-large congressional district caucused with the Democratic Party.

[SandersEmerson-29] [29]
In the 102nd through 109th Congresses, Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont caucused with the Democratic Party. Independent Jo Ann Emerson switched to the Republican party on January 8, 1997.

[Split_Control-30] [30]
The Democratic Party controlled the Senate in the 107th Congress from January 3 to January 20, 2001 (50-50 tie with Democratic Vice President Al Gore as the deciding vote) and from May 24, 2001, to January 3, 2003 (after Senator Jim Jeffords left the Republican Party to become an Independent and caucus with the Democrats).

[31] [31]
The Republican Party controlled the Senate in the 107th Congress from January 20, 2001 (50-50 tie with Republican Vice President Dick Cheney as the deciding vote) until May 24, 2001, when Senator Jim Jeffords left the Republican Party to become an Independent and caucus with the Democrats.

[Jeffords-32] [32]
In the 107th Congress (after May 24, 2001), and in the 108th Congress and 109th Congress, Independent Jim Jeffords of Vermont caucused with the Democratic Party.

[SandersGoode-33] [33]
In the 102nd through 109th Congresses, Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont caucused with the Democratic Party. Independent Virgil Goode switched to the Republican party on August 1, 2002.

[34] [34]
Republicans only held a trifecta from January 20 until May 24, 2001, when Senator Jim Jeffords left the Republican Party to become an Independent and caucus with the Democrats.

[independents-35] [35]
From the 110th Congress to the 117th Congress, two independent members of the Senate caucused with the Democratic Party, and thus are considered to be a part of the Senate Democratic Caucus. In the 110th, 111th, and 112th Congresses, it was Joseph Lieberman and Bernie Sanders. In the 113th, 114th, 115th, 116th, and 117th Congresses, it was Angus King and Bernie Sanders.

[36] [36]
From January 27 to April 28, 2009, when Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania) joined the Democratic caucus, there were 56 Democratic senators, 41 Republicans, two independents, and one undecided seat in Minnesota. That vacancy was filled as an additional Democratic seat on July 7, 2009, with the swearing-in of Al Franken, bringing the totals to 58 Democrats, 40 Republicans, and 2 independents. Seven weeks later, on August 25, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) died, lowering the Democratic total to 57 for a month until Paul G. Kirk Jr. (D) was appointed and sworn in as Senator Kennedy's interim replacement on September 25, 2009. Just over four months later, on February 4, 2010, Scott Brown (R) who had won a special election for the seat, succeeded Paul Kirk, returning the Republican caucus to 41, and again reducing the Democratic caucus to 57 plus two independents. [The Democratic caucus dropped again briefly to 56 in the 18 days between the death of Sen. Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia) on June 28, 2010, and the seating of his interim successor, Carte Goodwin (also D) on July 16.] The appointed Democratic senator from Illinois, Roland Burris was succeeded on November 29, 2010, by Mark Kirk, a Republican elected earlier that month, once again dropping the Democratic caucus to 56 with 2 independents facing 42 Republicans for the last month of the 111th Congress. December 2011 Congressional Directory, page 324

[37] [37]
From January 3 to April 28, 2009, prior to Senator Arlen Specter's switch to the Democratic Party, there were 41 Republican senators. The Republican caucus returned to 41 on February 4, 2010, with the swearing in of Scott Brown (R-Mass.) to fill the Democratic seat of Edward Kennedy and Paul Kirk. After Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) replaced Roland Burris as senator from Illinois on November 29, 2010, the Senate in the last month of the 111th Congress stood at 42 Republicans, 56 Democrats, and 2 independents.

[38] [38]
The Democratic Party took control of the Senate in the 117th Congress with the swearing in of Democratic senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff on January 20, 2021. With the two Independent senators (Bernie Sanders and Angus King) caucusing with the Democrats to create a 50-50 tie, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris became the deciding vote to give Democrats the majority.

[39] [39]
The Republican Party controlled the Senate in the 117th Congress from January 3 to January 20, 2021.

[Sinema-40] [40]
In the 117th Congress, Angus King and Bernie Sanders continued to serve as Independent Democrats, and Democratic senator Kyrsten Sinema switched to join them on December 9th, 2022.

[41] [41]
Due to Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock (who defeated Republicans David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in the Georgia special elections and their runoffs) not being inaugurated until January 20 (the same day which Joe Biden was inaugurated President), the Republicans held the Presidency and the Senate until Biden, Ossoff, and Warnock were all sworn in, at which time the Democratic Party obtained a trifecta.

[independents2-42] [42]
Three independent members of the Senate, Angus King, Bernie Sanders, and Kyrsten Sinema, caucused with the Democratic Party, and thus are considered to be a part of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

[43] [43]
During the 118th Congress, George Santos (R-NY3) was expelled by a vote of 311 to 114 on the first of December, 2023.

[44] [44]
The beginning of Lincoln's second term and of George W. Bush's first term began with a trifecta for the Republican Party but ended very shortly after beginning.

[45] [45]
The beginning of William Harrison's term began as a trifecta for the Whigs. It continued after Harrison's death when Tyler became President, but ended shortly after once the Whig Party expelled Tyler into becoming an independent.

[46] [46]
The Democrats and Republicans shared control of the Senate in the 47th United States Congress. In the middle of the 107th United States Congress, control of the Senate switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party.

[47] [47]
During the 27th Congress, the Whigs expelled the sitting president, John Tyler, from their party. Tyler governed as an independent.

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Political_power_in_the_United_States_over_time

Party divisions of United States Congresses

Party divisions by Congress

Partisan control of Congress

See also

References

External links

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Party	Senate	House	Presidency	Trifecta
Democratic	51	59	45	30
Republican	43	36	46	22^[44]
Democratic- Republican	12	13	14	12
Federalist	3	2	2	2
Pro- Administration	3	2	0	2
Whig	2	2	2	0^[45]
National Republican	1	1	0	0
Anti- Administration	0	1	0	0
Opposition	0	1	0	0
National Union	0	0	2	0
Split control	2^[46]	0	1^[47]	49
Independent	0	0	5	-