page_title: 96th United States Congress
section_title: Senate
hierarchical_section_title: 96th United States Congress / Party summary / Senate
context_page_description: The 96th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 1979, to January 3, 1981, during the last two years of the administration of U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
  The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the 1970 Census. Both chambers had a Democratic majority.
caption: Party standings on the opening day of the 96th Congress   57 Democratic Senators   1 Independent Senator, caucusing with Democrats   42 Republican Senators