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Civil War Sesquicentennial
The Great Uprising of the North--An Anniversary Picture--April 12, 1862.
In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, a continuing series of online features explores the Senate's wartime experience.
This Week in Senate History
Richard M. Johnson
February 8, 1837

Richard Mentor Johnson of Kentucky became the first vice president elected by the Senate. The 12th Amendment to the Constitution requires that when no candidate for vice president receives a majority of votes in the Electoral College, the Senate must choose a vice president from the top two contenders.

 

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2012 Session Schedule
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Active Legislation
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Floor Schedule

Thursday, Feb 09, 2012

9:30 a.m.: Convene and begin a period of morning business.

Thereafter, resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.1813, the Surface Transportation bill.


Previous Meeting

Tuesday, Feb 07, 2012

The Senate convened at 10:00 a.m. and adjourned at 7:18 p.m. No record votes were taken.


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Floor Activity
View the previous legislative day's Floor Activity.
Celebrating Black History Month

We honor the many African Americans who have enriched the history of the Senate. In 1870 Hiram Revels of Mississippi became the first African American senator. Five years later Blanche K. Bruce of Mississippi took the oath of office, and became the first African American to preside over the Senate in 1879. It would be nearly another century before Edward Brooke of Massachusetts followed in their historic footsteps in 1967.


Hiram Revels Edward Brooke Carol Moseley Braun

In 1993 Carol Moseley Braun broke another barrier, becoming the first African American female senator. In January of 2005, Barack Obama of Illinois brought the number to five. When Senator Obama resigned from office to become the 44th President of the United States in 2009, the Illinois governor appointed Roland Burris to fill the vacant seat.


These distinguished individuals have enriched the history of the Senate, but the role of African Americans in Senate history is not limited to those who served in elected office.
More on Black History Month


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