Journals of Congress
About the Journals | Indexes | Holdings at UCB
About the Journals
The United States Constitution, Article I, section 5 provides that:
Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members of either House on any question shall, at the desire of one fifth of those present, be entered on the journal.
The Journal--and not the Congressional Record--is the official record of the proceedings of the House The House and Senate each publish a Journal for each session of Congress. It has been published as a separate series (1789-1815 and 1953-present) and published as part of the Congressional Serial Set (1817-1952).
The Senate maintained a separate record of its executive proceedings that relate to its functions of confirming presidential nominees and consenting to the making of treaties. The
The section called History of Bills and Resolutions is found in the appendix of each Journal. It contains a complete numerical list of all Senate and House bills and resolutions for the session arranged separately. There is a subject index to this section of bills and resolutions, and to the Journal itself. 1
Regular and Special Sessions of Congress
From 1789 to 1933 presidential and congressional terms began on March 4, although
the Congress generally did not meet until the first Monday in December. When
a new President was to take office, his predecessor would call the Senate into
special session to confirm the nominations for the Cabinet and other
significant posts. Special sessions also were convened to consider the ratification
of treaties. Incumbent presidents also called special sessions from time to
time to allow Senators to consider vacancies and other executive business. Special
sessions are called by presidential proclamation. 2
Indexes to the Journals
General index of journals of Congress. (46-3) Vol. 1982, H.rp.145General index of Journals of 1st to 10th Congresses. (46-2) Vol. 1939, H.rp.1776
General Index of Journals of 11th-16th Congresses, 1809-21. (47-1) Vol. 2071, H.rp.1559
General personal index of journals of 1st-8th Congresses.
(48-2) Vol. 2331, H.rp.2692
General personal index of Journals of 9th-16th Congresses,
being record of Members, 1805-21. (49-1) Vol. 2446, H.rp.3475
Preparation of General Index of Journals of Congress [follows 1st session Reports 1-36]. (46-2) Vol. 1934, H.rp.23
House and Senate Journals
1789-1815 and 1953-presentJournal of the House of Representatives of the United States.
- Library of Congress, American Memory: 1789-1873
- GPO Access: 1991-1998
- 1789-1816, GREF Microfiche 27460
- J24 Main, Library Use Only -Library has:
- Shelved at Main Circulation Desk: (1813, 1815-1816)
- Gardner Stacks: (1953-1980, 1982-present)
- Bancroft J24 1790-1816
- Shelved at NRLF: (1790-1793, 1793a, 1795-1797, 1797a, 1800, 1803-1804,
1810, 1813-1816)
- J21 Library Use Only -Library has:
- Shelved at Main Circulation Desk : (1789-1797, 1799-1806, 1809-1810,
1813-1816)
- Gardner Stacks: (1953-present)
- Library of Congress, American Memory: 1789-1873
- 1789-1815, GREF Microfiche 27459
Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the U.S.
- Library of Congress, American Memory: 1789-1875
- Gardner Stacks: JK1251 .A3 (1 [1828]-53,55-57, 59-71, 74-90, 92 to present)
1817-1952
- United States Congressional Serial Set.
- Microfiche 3136, GREF
- J66 Main [Most volumes at NRLF, please check GLADIS record for NRLF
information]
- House, (15-1) Vol. 4
- Senate, (15-1) Vol. 1
- House, (15-2) Vol. 16
- Senate, (15-2) Vol. 13
- House, (16-1) Vol. 30
- Senate, (16-1) Vol. 25
- House, (16-2) Vol. 47
- Senate, (16-2) Vol. 41
- House, (17-1) Vol. 62
- Senate, (17-1) Vol. 58
- House, (17-2) Vol. 75
- Senate, (17-2) Vol. 72
- House, (18-1) Vol. 92
- Senate, (18-1) Vol. 88
- House, (18-2) Vol. 112
- Senate, (18-2) Vol. 107
- House, (19-1) Vol. 130
- Senate, (19-1) Vol. 124
- House, (19-2) Vol. 147
- Senate, (19-2) Vol. 143
- Senate, 19-Special, bound with Senate Journal 18-2, Vol. 107
- House, (20-1) Vol. 168
- Senate, (20-1) Vol. 162
- House, (20-2) Vol. 183
- Senate, (20-2) Vol. 180
- House, (21-1) Vol. 194
- Senate, (21-1) Vol. 191
- House, (21-2) Vol. 205
- Senate, (21-2) Vol. 202
- Senate, 21-Special, bound with Senate Journal, 20-2, Vol. 180
- House, (22-1) Vol. 215
- Senate, (22-1) Vol. 211
- House, (22-2) Vol. 232
- Senate, (22-2) Vol. 229
- House, (23-1) Vol. 253
- Senate, (23-1) Vol. 237
- House, (23-2) Vol. 270
- Senate, (23-2) Vol. 265
- Motion for expunging from Journal of Senate resolution censuring President,
etc. (23-2) Vol. 268 S.doc.126
- House, (24-1) Vol. 285
- Senate, (24-1) Vol. 278
- House, (24-2) Vol. 300
- Senate, (24-2) Vol. 296
- House, (25-1) Vol. 310
- Senate, (25-1) Vol. 308
- House, (25-2) Vol. 320
- Senate, (25-2) Vol. 313
- House, (25-3) Vol. 343
- Senate, (25-3) Vol. 337
- Senate, 25-Special, bound with Senate Journal 24-2, Vol. 296
- House, (26-1) Vol. 362
- Senate, (26-1) Vol. 353
- House, (26-2) Vol. 381
- Senate, (26-2) Vol. 374
- House, (27-1) Vol. 391
- Senate, (27-1) Vol. 389
- House, (27-2) Vol. 400
- Senate, (27-2) Vol. 394
- House, (27-3) Vol. 417
- Senate, (27-3) Vol. 412
- Senate, 27-Special, bound with Senate Journal, 26-2, Vol. 374
- House, (28-1) Vol. 438
- Senate, (28-1) Vol. 430
- House, (28-2) Vol. 462
- Senate, (28-2) Vol. 448
- House, (29-1) Vol. 479
- Senate, (29-1) Vol. 469
- House, (29-2) Vol. 496
- Senate, (29-2) Vol. 492
- Senate, 29-Special, bound with Senate Journal 28-2, Vol. 448
- House, (30-1) Vol. 513
- Senate, (30-1) Vol. 502
- House, (30-2) Vol. 536
- Senate, (30-2) Vol. 528
- House, (31-1) Vol. 566
- Senate, (31-1) Vol. 548
- House, (31-2) Vol. 594
- Senate, (31-2) Vol. 586
- Senate, 31-Special, bound with Senate Journal, 30-2, Vol. 528
- House, (32-1) Vol. 632
- Senate, (32-1) Vol. 610
- House, (32-2) Vol. 672
- Senate, (32-2) Vol. 657
- Senate, 32-Special, bound with Senate Journal 31-2, Vol. 586
- House, (33-1) Vol. 709
- Senate, (33-1) Vol. 689
- House, (33-2) Vol. 776
- Senate, (33-2) Vol. 745
- Senate, 33-Special, bound with Senate Journal, 32-2, Vol. 657
- House, (34-1) Vol. 838
- Senate, (34-1) Vol. 809
- House, 34-2; with appendixes and Index to House Journals, 1st and 2d sessions,
Vol. 839
- Senate, (34-2) bound with Senate Journal 34-1, Vol. 809
- House, (34-3) Vol. 892
- Senate, (34-3) Vol. 873
- House, (35-1) Vol. 940
- Senate, (35-1) Vol. 917
- House, (35-2) Vol. 995
- Senate, (35-2) Vol. 973
- Senate, 35-Special, March 1857, bound with Senate, 34-3, Vol. 873
- Senate, 35-Special-2, June 1858, bound with Senate Journal 35-1, Vol.
917
- House, (36-1) Vol. 1041-2
- Senate, (36-1) Vol. 1022
- House, (36-2) Vol. 1091
- Senate, (36-2) Vol. 1077
- Senate, 36-Special, March 1859, bound with Senate 35-2, Vol. 973
- Senate, 36-Special-2, June 1860, bound with Senate, 36-1, Vol. 1022
- House, (37-1) Vol. 1113
- Senate, (37-1) Vol. 1111
- House, (37-2) Vol. 1126
- Senate, (37-2) Vol. 1116
- House, (37-3) Vol. 1155
- Senate, (37-3) Vol. 1148
- Senate, 37-Special, bound with Senate Journal 36-2, Vol. 1077
- House, (38-1) Vol. 1179
- Senate, (38-1) Vol. 1175
- House, (38-2) Vol. 1215
- Senate, (38-2) Vol. 1208
- Senate, 38th-Special, bound with Senate 37-3, Vol. 1148
- House, (39-1) Vol. 1243
- Senate, (39-1) Vol. 1236
- House, (39-2) Vol. 1280
- Senate, (39-2) Vol. 1275
- Senate, 39-Special, bound with Senate Journal, 38-2, Vol. 1208
- House, (40-1) Vol. 1310
- Senate, (40-1) Vol. 1307
- House, (40-2) Vol. 1321
- Senate, (40-2) Vol. 1315
- House, (40-3) Vol. 1363
- Senate, (40-3) Vol. 1359
- Senate, 40-Special-2, bound with Senate Journal 40-1, Vol. 1307
- House, (41-1) Vol. 1400
- Senate, (41-1) Vol. 1392
- House, (41-2) Vol. 1410
- Senate, (41-2) Vol. 1404
- House, (41-3) Vol. 1444
- Senate, (41-3) Vol. 1439
- Senate, 41-Special-2, bound with Senate Journal 41-1, Vol. 1392
- House, (42-1) Vol. 1469
- Senate, (42-1) Vol. 1465
- House, (42-2) Vol. 1501
- Senate, (42-2) Vol. 1477
- House, (42-3) Vol. 1551
- Senate,(42-3) Vol. 1544
- Senate, 42-Special-2 session, bound with Senate Journal, 42-1 Vol. 1465
- House, (43-1) Vol. 1593
- Senate, (43-1) Vol. 1579
- House, (43-2) Vol. 1633
- Senate, (43-2) Vol. 1628
- Senate, 43-Special, bound with Senate Journal, 42-3, Vol. 1544
- House, (44-1) Vol. 1671
- Senate, (44-1) Vol. 1663
- House, (44-2) Vol. 1740
- Senate, (44-2) Vol. 1717
- Senate, 44-Special, bound with Senate Journal 43-2, Vol. 1628
- House, (45-1) Vol. 1772
- Senate, (45-1) Vol. 1771
- House, (45-2) Vol. 1792
- Senate, (45-2) Vol. 1779
- House, (45-3) Vol. 1841
- Senate, (45-3) Vol. 1827
- Senate, 45-Special, bound with Senate Journal, 44-2, Vol. 1717
- House, (46-1) Vol. 1874
- Senate, (46-1) Vol. 1868
- House, (46-2) Vol. 1901
- Senate, (46-2) Vol. 1881
- House, (46-3) Vol. 1950
- Senate, (46-3) Vol. 1940
- House, (47-1) Vol. 2008
- Senate, (47-1) Vol. 1984
- House, (47-2) Vol. 2089
- Senate, (47-2) Vol. 2072
- Senate, 47-Special, March-May 1881, bound with 46-3, Vol. 1940
- Senate, 47-Special, October 1881, bound with Senate, 47-1, Vol. 1984
- House, (48-1) Vol. 2180
- Senate, (48-1) Vol. 2161
- House, (48-2) Vol. 2275
- Senate, (48-2) Vol. 2260
- House, (49-1) Vol. 2366-7
- Senate, (49-1) Vol. 2332
- House, (49-2) Vol. 2459
- Senate, (49-2) Vol. 2447
- Senate, 49-Special, bound with Senate Journal 48-2, Vol. 2260
- House, (50-1) Vol. 2529-30, 2531 (Index)
- Senate, (50-1) Vol. 2503
- House, (50-2) Vol. 2625
- Senate, (50-2) Vol. 2609
- House, (51-1) Vol. 2713
- Senate, (51-1) Vol. 2677
- House, (51-2) Vol. 2829
- Senate, (51-2) Vol. 2817
- Senate, 51-Special, bound with Senate Journal, 50-2, Vol. 2609
- House, (52-1) Vol. 2919
- Senate, (52-1) Vol. 2891
- House, (52-2) Vol. 3075
- Senate, (52-2) Vol. 3054
- House, (53-1) Vol. 3149
- Senate, (53-1) Vol. 3143
- House, (53-2) Vol. 3196
- Senate, (53-2) Vol. 3159
- House, (53-3) Vol. 3291
- Senate, (53-3) Vol. 3274
- Senate, 53-Special, bound with Senate Journal 52-2, Vol. 3054
- House, (54-1) Vol. 3367-A
- Senate, (54-1) Vol. 3346-A
- House, (54-2) Vol. 3476-A
- Senate, (54-2) [also contains proceedings 55-Special, March 4-10, 1897].
Vol. 3466-A
- House, (55-1) Vol. 3570-A
- Senate, (55-1) Vol. 3557-A
- House, (55-2) Vol. 3628
- Senate, (55-2) Vol. 3589
- House, (55-3) Vol. 3742
- Senate, (55-3) Vol. 3724
- Senate, 55-Special, bound with Senate Journal, 54-2, Vol. 3466-A
- House, (56-1) Vol. 3897
- Senate, (56-1) Vol. 3842
- House, (56-2) Vol. 4068
- Senate, (56-2) Vol. 4028
- House, (57-1) Vol. 4267
- Senate, (57-1) Vol. 4218
- House, (57-2) Vol. 4409
- Senate, (57-2) Vol. 4408
- Senate, 57-Special, bound with Senate Journal, 56-2, Vol. 4028
- House, (58-1) Vol. 4561
- Senate, (58-1) Vol. 4560
- House, (58-2) Vol. 4569
- Senate, (58-2) Vol. 4568
- House, (58-3) Vol. 4754
- Senate, (58-3) Vol. 4753
- Senate, 58-Special, March 1903, bound with Senate 57-2, Vol. 4408
- House, (59-1) Vol. 4903
- Senate, (59-1) Vol. 4902
- House, (59-2) Vol. 5059
- Senate, (59-2) Vol. 5058
- Senate, 59-Special, March 1905, bound with Senate 58-3, Vol. 4753
- House, (60-1) Vol. 5217
- Senate, (60-1) Vol. 5216
- House, (60-2) Vol. 5379
- Senate, (60-2) Vol. 5378
- House, (61-1) Vol. 5563
- Senate, (61-1) Vol. 5562
- House, (61-2) Vol. 5581
- Senate, (61-2) Vol. 5580
- House, (61-3) Vol. 5839
- Senate, (61-3) Vol. 5838
- Senate, 61-Special, March 1909, bound with Senate 60-2, Vol. 5378
- House, (62-1) Vol. 6076
- Senate, (62-1) Vol. 6075
- House, (62-2) Vol. 6119
- Senate, (62-2) Vol. 6118
- House, (62-3) Vol. 6329
- Senate, (62-3) Vol. 6328 Extracts from Senate Journal in all cases of
impeachment. (62-2) Vol. 6171 S.doc.876
- House, (63-1) Vol. 6509
- Senate, (63-1) Vol. 6508
- House, (63-2) Vol. 6551
- Senate, (63-2) Vol. 6550
- House, (63-3) Vol. 6761
- Senate, (63-3) Vol. 6760
- Senate, 63-Special, March 1913, bound with Senate 62-3, Vol. 6328
- House, (64-1) Vol. 6896
- Senate, (64-1) Vol. 6895
- House, (64-2) Vol. 7105
- Senate, (64-2) Vol. 7104
- House, (65-1) Vol. 7248
- Senate, (65-1) Vol. 7247
- House, (65-2) Vol. 7303
- Senate, (65-2) Vol. 7302
- House, (65-3) Vol. 7451
- Senate,(65-3) Vol. 7450
- Senate, 65-Special, bound with Senate Journal 64-2, Vol. 7104
- House, (66-1) Vol. 7589
- Senate, (66-1) Vol. 7588
- House, (66-2) Vol. 7648
- Senate, (66-2) Vol. 7647
- House, (66-3) Vol. 7773
- Senate,(66-3) Vol. 7772
- House, (67-1) Vol. 7917
- Senate, (67-1) Vol. 7916
- House, (67-2) Vol. 7949
- Senate, (67-2) Vol. 7948
- House , (67-3) bound with House Journal, 67-4, Vol. 8154
- Senate, (67-3 bound with Senate Journal, 67-4, Vol. 8153
- House, (67-4) Vol. 8154
- Senate, (67-4) Vol. 8153
- Senate, 67-Special, bound with Senate Journal 67-1, Vol. 7916
- House, (68-1) Vol. 8219
- Senate, (68-1) Vol. 8218
- House, (68-2) Vol. 8387
- Senate, (68-2) Vol. 8386
- House, (69-1) Vol. 8523
- Senate, (69-1) Vol. 8522
- House, (69-2) Vol. 8684
- Senate, (69-2) Vol. 8683
- Senate, 69-Special, bound with Journal of 68-2, Vol. 8386
- House, (70-1) Vol. 8828
- Senate, (70-1) Vol. 8827
- House, (70-2) Vol. 8976
- Senate, (70-2) Vol. 8975
- House, (71-1) Vol. 9117
- Senate, (71-1) Vol. 9116
- House, (71-2) Vol. 9184
- Senate, (71-2) Vol. 9183
- House, (71-3) Vol. 9322
- Senate, 71-3) Vol. 9321
- Senate, 71-Special, March 1929. Vol. 9116
- Senate, 71-Special-4, July 1930. Vol. 9183
- House, (72-1) Vol. 9486
- House, (72-2) Vol. 9646
- Senate, (72-1) Vol. 9485
- Senate, (72-2) Vol. 9645
- House, (73-1) Vol. 9739
- Senate, (73-1) Vol. 9738
- House, (73-2) Vol. 9768
- Senate, (73-2) Vol. 9767
- Senate, 73-Special, Vol. 9738
- House, (74-1) Vol. 9877
- Senate, (74-1) Vol. 9876
- House, (74-2) Vol. 9982
- Senate, (74-2) Vol. 9981
- House, (75-1) Vol. 10075
- Senate, (75-1) Vol. 10074
- House, (75-2 and 3) Vol. 10228
- Senate, (75-2 and 3) Vol. 10227
- House, 76th (76-1) Vol. 10287
- Senate, 76th (76-1) Vol. 10286
- House, (76-2 and 3) Vol. 10427
- Senate, (76-2 and 3) Vol. 10426
- House, (77-1) Vol. 10542
- Senate, (77-1) Vol. 10541
- House, (77-2) Vol. 10654
- Senate, (77-2) Vol. 10653
- House, (78-1) Vol. 10754
- Senate, (78-1) Vol. 10753
- House, (78-2) Vol. 10838
- Senate, (78-2) Vol. 10837
- House, (79-1) Vol. 10924
- Senate, (79-1) Vol. 10923
- House, (79-2) Vol. 11013
- Senate, (79-2) Vol. 11012
- House, (80-1) Vol. 11113
- Senate, (80-1) Vol. 11112
- House, (80-2) Vol. 11204
- Senate, (80-2) Vol. 11203
- House, (81-1) Vol. 11290
- Senate, (81-1) Vol. 11289
- House, (81-2) Vol. 11366
- Senate, (81-2) Vol. 11365
- House, (82-1) Vol. 11485
- House, (82-2) Vol. 11565
- Senate, (82-1) Vol. 11484
- Senate, (82-2) Vol. 11564
* Sources
1. Boyd, Ann Morris, and Rae Elizabeth Rips. United States Government Publications. New York: H.W. Wilson Company, 1949.
2. Session Dates of Congress via U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Clerk.