United States House Committee on Elections

The United States House Committee on Elections is a former standing committee of the United States House of Representatives.

Article 1, section 5, of the Constitution of the United States specifies: "Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns, and Qualifications of its own Members." The Committee on Elections was established as the first standing committee of the House to perform this function on April 13, 1789, just two weeks after the first quorum allowed the House of Representatives to organize itself. Rule number 7 of the first rules adopted by the House of Representatives specifies the character and jurisdiction of the committee:

7. A standing Committee on Elections shall be appointed, to consist of seven members, it shall be the duty of the said committee to examine and report upon the certificates of election, or other credentials of the members returned to serve in this House, and to take into their consideration all such matters as shall or may come in question, and be referred to them by the House, touching returns and elections, and to report their proceedings, with their opinion thereupon, to the House.^[1]

From 1789 until the mid-19th century the number of contested election cases remained stable at an average of three per Congress. After the 34th Congress (1855–57) the number of contested seats rose sporadically to a peak of 38 during the 54th Congress (1895–97). In 1895, due to the increase in workload, the committee was split into three separate committees: Elections #1, Elections #2, and Elections #3. After 1935 the number of contested elections returned to an average of three per Congress, and in 1947 the three Elections Committees were abolished and their jurisdiction included in that of the new House Administration Committee.

In November 2018, Nancy Pelosi announced her intention to restore the Elections Subcommittee of the Committee on House Administration in the 116th Congress and name Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge the Chair.

Historical committee rosters

1st Congress

1st session

Majority (Pro-Administration)^[2]	Minority (Anti-Administration)
George Clymer, Pennsylvania, chairman Fisher Ames, Massachusetts Egbert Benson, New York Daniel Carroll, Maryland Nicholas Gilman, New Hampshire Benjamin Huntington, Connecticut Alexander White, Virginia	none

2nd session

Majority (Pro-Administration)^[3]	Minority (Anti-Administration)
Fisher Ames, Massachusetts, chairman Egbert Benson, New York Roger Sherman, Connecticut Thomas Sinnickson, New Jersey Alexander White, Virginia Henry Wynkoop, Pennsylvania	Michael Jenifer Stone, Maryland

3rd session

2nd Congress

1st session

Majority (Pro-Administration)^[2]	Minority (Anti-Administration)
Samuel Livermore, New Hampshire, chairman Elias Boudinot, New Jersey John Steele, North Carolina Benjamin Bourne, Rhode Island James Hillhouse, Connecticut	Elbridge Gerry, Massachusetts William Branch Giles, Virginia

2nd session

3rd Congress

1st session

Majority (Anti-Administration)^[2]	Minority (Pro-Administration)
Nathaniel Macon, North Carolina William Irvine, Pennsylvania	William Loughton Smith, South Carolina, chairman Richard Bland Lee, Virginia Shearjashub Bourne, Massachusetts Jonathan Dayton, New Jersey James Gordon, New York

2nd session

Majority (Anti-Administration)^[4]	Minority (Pro-Administration)
Nathaniel Macon, North Carolina John Hunter, South Carolina John Samuel Sherburne, New Hampshire	Jonathan Dayton, New Jersey, chairman Richard Bland Lee, Virginia James Hillhouse, Connecticut George Dent, Maryland

4th Congress

1st session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[2]	Minority (Federalist)
Abraham B. Venable, Virginia, chairman Thomas Blount, North Carolina Henry Dearborn, Massachusetts	John W. Kittera, Pennsylvania George Dent, Maryland Zephaniah Swift, Connecticut Robert Goodloe Harper, South Carolina

2nd session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[5]	Minority (Federalist)
Abraham B. Venable, Virginia, chairman Thomas Blount, North Carolina Frederick Muhlenberg, Pennsylvania Henry Dearborn, Massachusetts	George Dent, Maryland Zephaniah Swift, Connecticut Abiel Foster, New Hampshire

5th Congress

1st session

Majority (Federalist)^[2]	Minority (Democratic-Republican)
Joshua Coit, Connecticut, chairman Thomas Hartley, Pennsylvania George Dent, Maryland John Williams, New York	Abraham Baldwin, Georgia Carter Bassett Harrison, Virginia Joseph Bradley Varnum, Massachusetts

2nd session

Majority (Federalist)^[6]	Minority (Democratic-Republican)
Joshua Coit, Connecticut, chairman Thomas Hartley, Pennsylvania George Dent, Maryland John Williams, New York Thomas Evans, Virginia	Abraham Baldwin, Georgia Joseph Bradley Varnum, Massachusetts

3rd session

Majority (Federalist)^[7]	Minority (Democratic-Republican)
John W. Kittera, Pennsylvania George Dent, Maryland Chauncey Goodrich, Connecticut John Williams, New York	Joseph Bradley Varnum, Massachusetts, chairman Abraham Baldwin, Georgia Anthony New, Virginia

6th Congress

1st session

Majority (Federalist)^[8]	Minority (Democratic-Republican)
Samuel W. Dana, Connecticut, chairman John W. Kittera, Pennsylvania Anthony New, Virginia William Gordon, New Hampshire Archibald Henderson, North Carolina	Thomas Sumter, South Carolina Theodorus Bailey, New York

2nd session

Majority (Federalist)^[9]	Minority (Democratic-Republican)
George Dent, Maryland, chairman Thomas Evans, Virginia William Edmond, Connecticut Joseph Dickson, North Carolina Lemuel Williams, Massachusetts	Peter Muhlenberg, Pennsylvania William C. C. Claiborne, Tennessee

7th Congress

1st session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[10]	Minority (Federalist)
John Milledge, Georgia, chairman John A. Hanna, Pennsylvania John Condit, New Jersey John Taliaferro, Virginia	John Dennis, Maryland Samuel Tenney, New Hampshire John Stanly, North Carolina

2nd session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[2]	Minority (Federalist)
John Bacon, Massachusetts, chairman Anthony New, Virginia John Condit, New Jersey Ebenezer Elmer, New Jersey	John Dennis, Maryland Samuel Tenney, New Hampshire John Stanly, North Carolina

8th Congress

1st session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[2]	Minority (Federalist)
William Findley, Pennsylvania, chairman Joseph Bradley Varnum, Massachusetts Matthew Clay, Virginia William Kennedy, North Carolina	Calvin Goddard, Connecticut Samuel Hunt, New Hampshire Henry W. Livingston, New York

2nd session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[2]	Minority (Federalist)
William Findley, Pennsylvania, chairman Joseph Bradley Varnum, Massachusetts Ebenezer Elmer, New Jersey John Wayles Eppes, Virginia William Kennedy, North Carolina	Henry W. Livingston, New York Clifton Clagett, New Hampshire

9th Congress

1st session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[2]	Minority (Federalist)
William Findley, Pennsylvania, chairman Ebenezer Elmer, New Jersey John Wayles Eppes, Virginia Barnabas Bidwell, Massachusetts Martin G. Schuneman, New York	Martin Chittenden, Vermont Caleb Ellis, New Hampshire

2nd session

10th Congress

1st and 2nd sessions

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[2]^[11]	Minority (Federalist)
William Findley, Pennsylvania, chairman Matthew Clay, Virginia John Blake Jr., New York John Lambert, New Jersey David Rogerson Williams, South Carolina	James Elliot, Vermont Lewis B. Sturges, Connecticut

11th Congress

1st and 2nd sessions

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[2]^[12]	Minority (Federalist)
William Findley, Pennsylvania, chairman Matthew Clay, Virginia John Taylor, South Carolina George Troup, Georgia Barzillai Gannett, Massachusetts	Killian K. Van Rensselaer, New York Lewis B. Sturges, Connecticut

3rd session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[13]	Minority (Federalist)
William Findley, Pennsylvania, chairman Matthew Clay, Virginia John Taylor, South Carolina George Troup, Georgia	Killian K. Van Rensselaer, New York Samuel Taggart, Massachusetts Lewis B. Sturges, Connecticut

12th Congress

1st session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[2]	Minority (Federalist)
William Findley, Pennsylvania, chairman Nathaniel Macon, North Carolina George Troup, Georgia James Fisk, Vermont James Pleasants, Virginia	Lewis B. Sturges, Connecticut James Emott, New York

2nd session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[14]	Minority (Federalist)
William Findley, Pennsylvania, chairman Nathaniel Macon, North Carolina John Dawson, Virginia Willis Alston, North Carolina George Troup, Georgia	John Davenport, Connecticut James Emott, New York

13th Congress

1st session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[2]	Minority (Federalist)
James Fisk, Vermont, chairman William A. Burwell, Virginia William Anderson, Pennsylvania Daniel Avery, New York Lewis Condict, New Jersey	John Davenport, Connecticut Timothy Pickering, Massachusetts

2nd session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[15]	Minority (Federalist)
James Fisk, Vermont, chairman Thomas Gholson Jr., Virginia William Anderson, Pennsylvania William R. King, North Carolina]] Israel Pickens, North Carolina]] Oliver C. Comstock, New York	Roger Vose, New Hampshire

3rd session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[16]	Minority (Federalist)
James Fisk, Vermont, chairman Willis Alston, North Carolina William Anderson, Pennsylvania Oliver C. Comstock, New York Thomas K. Harris, Tennessee	Charles Goldsborough, Maryland Roger Vose, New Hampshire

14th Congress

1st session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[2]	Minority (Federalist)
John W. Taylor, New York, chairman William Piper, Pennsylvania Solomon P. Sharp, Kentucky Philip P. Barbour, Virginia	Lyman Law, Connecticut Timothy Pickering, Massachusetts Roger Vose, New Hampshire

2nd session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[2]	Minority (Federalist)
John W. Taylor, New York, chairman John Hahn Isaac Thomas, Tennessee John Kerr, Virginia	Lyman Law, Connecticut Timothy Pickering, Massachusetts Roger Vose, New Hampshire

15th Congress

1st session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[17]	Minority (Federalist)
John W. Taylor, New York, chairman John Tyler, Virginia Orsamus Cook Merrill, Vermont Henry Shaw, Massachusetts	John Linscom Boss Jr., Rhode Island Solomon Strong, Massachusetts Ezekiel Whitman, Massachusetts

2nd session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[18]	Minority (Federalist)
John W. Taylor, New York, chairman Orsamus Cook Merrill, Vermont Henry Shaw, Massachusetts Alexander Smyth, Virginia Christian Tarr, Pennsylvania	John Linscom Boss Jr., Rhode Island Ezekiel Whitman, Massachusetts

16th Congress

1st session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[2]	Minority (Federalist)
John W. Taylor, New York, chairman Orsamus Cook Merrill, Vermont Christian Tarr, Pennsylvania Starling Tucker, South Carolina William Brown, Kentucky John Sloane, Ohio	Ezekiel Whitman, Massachusetts

2nd session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[19]	Minority (Federalist)
John W. Taylor, New York, chairman Christian Tarr, Pennsylvania Starling Tucker, South Carolina Charles Hooks, North Carolina Robert Clark, New York John Sloane, Ohio Thomas Love Moore, Virginia	none

17th Congress

1st session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[2]	Minority (Federalist)
John Sloane, Ohio, chairman Weldon Nathaniel Edwards, North Carolina Starling Tucker, South Carolina Thomas Jones Rogers, Pennsylvania Thomas Love Moore, Virginia John Speed Smith, Kentucky Reuben H. Walworth, New York	none

2nd session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[20]	Minority (Federalist)
John Sloane, Ohio, chairman Weldon Nathaniel Edwards, North Carolina Starling Tucker, South Carolina Thomas Jones Rogers, Pennsylvania Rollin Carolas Mallary, Vermont Thomas Love Moore, Virginia	Joseph Kirkland, New York

18th Congress

1st session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[2]	Minority (Federalist)
John Sloane, Ohio, chairman William Lee Ball, Virginia Thomas H. Hall, North Carolina Starling Tucker, South Carolina Rollin Carolas Mallary, Vermont James Israel Standifer, Tennessee Philip Thompson, Kentucky	none

2nd session

Majority (Democratic-Republican)^[21]	Minority (Federalist)
John Sloane, Ohio, chairman Thomas H. Hall, North Carolina Starling Tucker, South Carolina Daniel H. Miller, Pennsylvania James Israel Standifer, Tennessee Philip Thompson, Kentucky John Taliaferro, Virginia	none

19th Congress

1st session

Majority (Anti-Jacksonian)^[2]	Minority (Jacksonian)
John Sloane, Ohio, chairman Moses Hayden, New York Elisha Phelps, Connecticut Alfred H. Powell, Virginia	Starling Tucker, South Carolina John Heritage Bryan, North Carolina Michael Hoffman, New York

2nd session

Majority (Anti-Jacksonian)^[22]	Minority (Jacksonian)
John Sloane, Ohio, chairman Moses Hayden, New York Elisha Phelps, Connecticut	Willis Alston, North Carolina Starling Tucker, South Carolina Nathaniel Claiborne, Virginia Michael Hoffman, New York

20th Congress

1st session

Majority (Jacksonian)^[23]	Minority (Anti-Jacksonian)
Willis Alston, North Carolina Starling Tucker, South Carolina John Anderson, Maine Nathaniel Claiborne, Virginia John G. Stower, New York	John Sloane, Ohio, chairman Elisha Phelps, Connecticut

2nd session

Majority (Jacksonian)^[24]	Minority (Anti-Jacksonian)
John Anderson, Maine, chairman Willis Alston, North Carolina Nathaniel Claiborne, Virginia John G. Stower, New York	Elisha Phelps, Connecticut John Davenport, Ohio James F. Randolph, New Jersey

21st Congress

1st and 2nd sessions

Majority (Jacksonian)^[25]^[26]	Minority (Anti-Jacksonian)
Willis Alston, North Carolina, chairman Starling Tucker, South Carolina Nathaniel Claiborne, Virginia Nicholas D. Coleman, Kentucky Cave Johnson, Tennessee	James F. Randolph, New Jersey Thomas Beekman, New York

22nd Congress

1st and 2nd sessions

Majority (Jacksonian)^[2]^[27]	Minority (Anti-Jacksonian)
Nathaniel Claiborne, Virginia, chairman Cornelius Holland, Maine Lauchlin Bethune, North Carolina	James F. Randolph, New Jersey Thomas Dickens Arnold, Tennessee John A. Collier, New York John K. Griffin, South Carolina

23rd Congress

1st session

Majority (Jacksonian)^[2]	Minority (Anti-Jacksonian)
Nathaniel Claiborne, Virginia, chairman Micajah Thomas Hawkins, North Carolina Thomas L. Hamer, Ohio Seaborn Jones, Georgia Balie Peyton, Tennessee Aaron Vanderpoel, New York	John Banks, Pennsylvania John K. Griffin, South Carolina Edward A. Hannegan, Indiana

2nd session

Majority (Jacksonian)^[28]	Minority (Anti-Jacksonian)
Nathaniel Claiborne, Virginia, chairman Micajah Thomas Hawkins, North Carolina Robert Burns, New Hampshire Aaron Vanderpoel, New York James Bouldin, Virginia Daniel Kilgore, Ohio	John K. Griffin, South Carolina Edward A. Hannegan, Indiana Gideon Hard, New York

External links

Committee on Elections at NARA

References

^ Annals of the Congress of the United States, 1st Cong., 1st sess., April 13, 1789, p. 122.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u Cases of Contested Elections in Congress, from the year 1789 to 1834, inclusive. Printed by Gales and Seaton. 1834. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 1. 1790. p. 150.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 2. 1794. p. 224.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 2. 1796. p. 607.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 3. 1797. p. 81.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 3. 1798. p. 400.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 3. 1799. p. 529.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 3. 1800. p. 722.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 4. 1801. p. 6.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 6. 1808. p. 340.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 7. 1809. p. 107.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 7. 1810. p. 436.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 8. 1812. p. 543.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 9. 1813. p. 168.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 9. 1814. p. 452.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 11. 1817. p. 18.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 12. 1818. p. 8.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 14. 1820. p. 9.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 16. 1822. p. 18.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 18. 1824. p. 26.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 20. 1826. p. 23.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 21. 1827. p. 25.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 22. 1828. p. 21.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 23. 1829. p. 29.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 24. 1830. p. 34.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 26. 1832. p. 2.
^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States. Vol. 28. 1834. p. 33.

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