Congress Profiles

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28th Congress (1843–1845)

Congressional Profile

Total Membership:

223 Representatives
3 Delegates

Party Divisions:^*

147 Democrats
72 Whigs
2 Law and Order
1 Independent Democrat
1 Independent Whig

^*Party division totals are based on election day results.

/tiles/non-collection/s/speaker_jones_2005_16_16_1.xml Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives
About this object A lawyer before entering Congress, Virginia Representative John W. Jones served one term as Speaker of the House.

Congress Overview

The 1842 elections gave Democrats control of the Senate, and the House in the 28th Congress (1843–1845). Representative John Quincy Adams’s long crusade to overturn the House’s “gag” rule on anti-slavery petitions finally prevailed when the House struck down the controversial provision. Congress mandated uniform dates for federal elections. After the Senate rejected a treaty to annex the Texas Republic, Congress passed the first of two joint resolutions admitting Texas to the Union. The United States thus inherited the boundary dispute between Mexico and Texas.

Member Information

Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, (1774–2005), Official Annotated Membership Roster by State with Vacancy and Special Election Information for the 28th Congress. [PDF]
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Committee Information

Leadership & Officers

Speaker of the House:: John W. Jones (D–Virginia)
Clerk of the House:: Benjamin B. French ¹
Caleb J. McNulty ²
Mathew St. Clair Clarke
Sergeant at Arms:: Eleazor M. Townsend
Chaplain of the House:: Isaac S. Tinsley – Baptist
William M. Daily – Methodist
Doorkeeper:: Jesse E. Dow
Postmaster:: John M. Johnson