113th United States Congress convenes

January 4, 2013

The United States Congress, consisting of the House of Representatives and Senate, convened at 12:00 PM Thursday at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. for the first session of the. Newly members of both the House of Representatives and Senate were  as both houses debated the rules and procedures to be adhered to for the next two years.



The House of Representatives customarily elected its for the 113th Congress. Incumbent Speaker Republican John Boehner was re-elected, defeating Democrat Nancy Pelosi by a vote of 220–192. Boehner's re-election as House Speaker ended speculation that the Republican Party would split and nominate another candidate to challenge him for the gavel following internal tumult during the "" negotiations last month. After Boehner was sworn-in for his second term as Speaker, he proceeded to swear-in all 435 elected and re-elected members of the House .

Members of the United States Senate were sworn-in in groups of four by and President of the Senate Joe Biden. Among the membership of the U.S. Senate for the 113th Congress are a record-setting 20 female Senators, including newly-elected Democrat of Wisconsin, the first openly gay member of the U.S. Senate.

Members of the Senate and House of Representatives joined Joe Biden and John Boehner, respectively, after the formal swearing-in ceremony for re-enactment ceremonies in front of photographers.

Republican, United States Senator from Illinois, also officially returned to his duties after suffering a debilitating last January 21st that forced him to learn how to walk again. Fulfilling a goal he had set for himself after his stroke, Kirk ascended the 45 steps leading up to the Senate wing of the United States Capitol building with assistance from both Joe Biden and fellow Senator, as several other members of both houses of Congress and well-wishers looked on. He is expected to continue rehabilitation, while convenient housing arrangements have been made.

In the new congress, there are 53 Democrats, 45 Republicans and two in the Senate. The House of Representatives now has 234 Republicans and 201 Democrats in its membership. Having convened, the 113th Congress is expected to face issues including the, and the.

A new congress convenes every two years in January, with the slated to convene in January 2015. The convened in 1789.