The 49th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1885, to March 4, 1887, during the first two years of Grover Cleveland's first presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1880 United States census. The Senate had a Republican majority, and the House had a Democratic majority. Major events March 4, 1885: Grover Cleveland became President of the United States November 25, 1885: Vice President Thomas A. Hendricks died Major legislation January 19, 1886: Presidential Succession Act of 1886, ch. 4, February 3, 1887: Electoral Count Act, ch. 90, February 4, 1887: Interstate Commerce Act, ch. 104, February 8, 1887: Indian General Allotment Act ("Dawes Act"), ch. 119, March 2, 1887: Agricultural Experiment Stations Act of 1887 March 2, 1887: Hatch Act of 1887, ch. 314, March 3, 1887: Tucker Act, ch. 359, March 3, 1887: Edmunds–Tucker Act, ch. 397 Party summary The count below identifies party affiliations at the beginning of the first session of this Congress, and includes members from vacancies and newly admitted states, when they were first seated. Changes resulting from subsequent replacements are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section. Senate House of Representatives Leadership Senate President: Thomas A. Hendricks (D), until November 25, 1885; vacant thereafter President pro tempore: John Sherman (R), December 7, 1885 – February 26, 1887 John J. Ingalls (R), from February 26, 1887 Republican Conference Chairman: George F. Edmunds Democratic Caucus Chairman: James B. Beck Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman: Arthur Pue Gorman House of Representatives Speaker: John G. Carlisle (D) Minority Leader: Thomas B. Reed Democratic Caucus Chairman: John Randolph Tucker Republican Conference Chairman: Joseph Gurney Cannon Members Senate Senators were elected by the state legislatures every two years, with one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election. In this Congress, Class 1 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1886; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1888; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1890. Alabama 2. John T. Morgan (D) 3. James L. Pugh (D) Arkansas