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47th Congress (1881–1883)
Congressional Profile
Total Membership:
293 Representatives
8 Delegates
Party Divisions:*
128 Democrats
151 Republicans
10 Nationals
2 Readjuster Democrats
1 Independent
1 Independent Democrat
*Party division totals are based on election day results.
/tiles/non-collection/s/speaker_keifer_2005_16_30_1.xml Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives
About this object Ohio Representative Joseph Keifer served one term as Speaker.
Congress Overview
Republicans won the House and presidency while the Senate was evenly divided after the 1880 elections. The 47th Congress (1881–1883) focused on immigration: approving a treaty with China to slow the flow of Chinese laborers; passing a Chinese Exclusion Act (after an earlier one had been vetoed); and sending a general immigration act to the President. Congress also appropriated funds for river and harbor projects and for modernizing the U.S. Navy. After the trial and execution of President James Garfield's assassin, a delusional job-seeker, Congress replaced the patronage system with a Civil Service program to hire government workers.
Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, (1774–2005), Official Annotated Membership Roster by State with Vacancy and Special Election Information for the 47th Congress [PDF]
Learn more about the House of Representatives with an interactive map
Learn more about the People of the People's House
Research Finding Aids for Official House Records
House Committees Bibliography
Leadership & Officers
Speaker of the House:
J. Warren Keifer (R–Ohio)
Democratic Caucus Chairman:
Republican Conference Chairman:
George M. Robeson (R–New Jersey)
Clerk of the House:
Edward McPherson
Sergeant at Arms:
John G. Thompson
Chaplain of the House:
Frederick Dunglison Power – Disciples of Christ
Doorkeeper:
Walter P. Brownlow
Postmaster:
Henry Sherwood
Clerk at the Speaker's Table:
J. Guilford White
To view complete lists of individuals who have served in these leadership and official positions since the 1st Congress, visit the People section
Session Dates - 40th to 49th Congress
Saturday/Sunday Sessions
Saturday and Sunday Legislative Days - 40th to 49th Congress
Joint Meetings, Joint Sessions, & Inaugurations - 40th to 59th Congress
Related Collection Object
Washington, D.C. - The National Legislature - The Sergeant-at-Arms Bringing in Absentee Members
Newspapers of this period inform us that a scene such as this was not uncommon during night sessions of the House. "However faithful members may be in the performance of their duties during the day sessions, …
Related Historical Highlights
The Appointment of William H. Smith as House Librarian
William Henry Smith—a prominent African-American Washingtonian—was appointed Librarian of the House.
Contested Election Victory of Representative Robert Smalls of South Carolina
African-American Representative Robert Smalls of South Carolina won his contested election case against Representative George Tillman, a political rival Smalls once described as the "arch enemy of my …
The Constitution in the Congressional Record
Roswell P. Flower of New York, in a seemingly unprecedented request, inserted into the Congressional Record a complete, amended copy of the U.S. Constitution.
1Available data show that Representative John F. House nominated Samuel J. Randall as the Democratic candidate for Speaker, the traditional role of the caucus chairman. Later data show W.S. Rosecrans issuing the next call for a Democratic Caucus meeting, but there is no evidence to suggest that Rosencrans was actually elected caucus chairman.
For information on the current Congress, please visit the Office of the Clerk's website.
History, Art & Archives, U.S. House of Representatives, "47th Congress (1881–1883)," https://history.house.gov/Congressional-Overview/Profiles/47th/ (January 15, 2021)