<P> The Democratic Party controlled a majority in both chambers for the first time since the end of the 103rd Congress in 1995 . Although the Democrats held fewer than 50 Senate seats , they had an operational majority because the two independent senators caucused with the Democrats for organizational purposes . No Democratic - held seats had fallen to the Republican Party in the 2006 elections . Democrat Nancy Pelosi became the first woman Speaker of the House . The House also received the first Muslim ( Keith Ellison ) and Buddhist ( Hank Johnson and Mazie Hirono ) members of Congress . </P>
<P> The Democratic Party controlled a majority in both chambers for the first time since the end of the 103rd Congress in 1995 . Although the Democrats held fewer than 50 Senate seats , they had an operational majority because the two independent senators caucused with the Democrats for organizational purposes . No Democratic - held seats had fallen to the Republican Party in the 2006 elections . Democrat Nancy Pelosi became the first woman Speaker of the House . The House also received the first Muslim ( Keith Ellison ) and Buddhist ( Hank Johnson and Mazie Hirono ) members of Congress . </P>
who was in control of congress in 2008
who was in control of congress in 2008
Democratic Party
Democratic Party