The 37th 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, 1861, to March 4, 1863, during the first two years of Abraham Lincoln's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1850 United States census. For the first time since the party's establishment, the Republicans won the majority of both chambers, and thus full control of Congress. And with Abraham Lincoln becoming the first Republican President after being sworn in on March 4, 1861, the Republicans had their first ever overall federal government trifecta. Major events March 4, 1861: Republican pluralities are seated in Senate and House, becoming governing majorities in both Houses given vacancies among Southerners. Louisiana has 2 of 4 representatives remaining. Although represented in the Confederate Congress, Missouri and Kentucky remained with full delegations in the 37th Congress. March 4, 1861: Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated President of the United States. April 12–14, 1861: Battle of Fort Sumter, Civil War began. April 19, 1861: Union blockade of the South begins at Fort Monroe, Virginia. April 27, 1861: President Lincoln suspends habeas corpus from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia and called up 75,000 militia. May 6, 1861: Arkansas Secession Convention enacted an Ordinance of Secession. May 20, 1861: North Carolina Secession Convention enacted an Ordinance of Secession. May 23, 1861: Virginia popular referendum ratified Ordinance of Secession. 5 of 12 U.S. Representatives remained. Two senators from the "Restored Government of Virginia" replaced the two who withdrew. June 8, 1861: Tennessee popular referendum ratified Ordinance of Secession. 3 of 10 U.S. Representatives remain. One Senator, Andrew Johnson, remained. July 21, 1861: First Battle of Bull Run Union approach to Richmond is repulsed. September 17, 1862: Battle of Antietam rebel invasion into Maryland is repulsed. September 22, 1862: Emancipation Proclamation ordered, to begin January 1, 1863. November 1862: 1862 and 1863 United States House of Representatives elections and 1862 and 1863 United States Senate elections: Democrats gained 31 House seats to 31% and lost 5 Senate seats to 19%. Two special sessions The Senate, a continuing body, was called into special session by President Buchanan, meeting from March 4 to 28, 1861. The border states and Texas were still represented. Shortly after the Senate session adjourned, Fort