First-Term Members of the House of Representatives

The roles and expectations for first-term Members of the House of Representatives have changed over time. The earliest Congresses typically featured a large number of first-term Representatives after each election cycle because Members did not usually pursue long congressional careers in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This meant that first-term Members occasionally assumed prominent roles in the House. Henry Clay of Kentucky, for instance, won election as Speaker in his first term in the House.

But by the early 20th century, first-term Members were expected to go through a period of apprenticeship, learning about the House’s rhythms and procedures from more senior Members before taking on complex policies and managing legislation on the floor. As House Speaker Champ Clark of Missouri once said, “A man has to learn to be a Representative just as he must learn to be a blacksmith, a carpenter, a farmer . . . or a doctor.”¹ By the mid-20th century, first-term Members were often called “freshmen.”

The table below documents the number of Representatives serving their first term for each Congress:

A “pre-convening” freshman is a Member (present on Opening Day of a new Congress) who won a seat in the general election. This category also includes people who won a special election prior to the first meeting of a new Congress. This often occurred in the 19th century as Congress typically did not convene for more than a year after the states held their general elections, leaving plenty of time for Members-elect to die, accept an appointment elsewhere in the government, or decide not to serve.

A “post-convening” freshman is someone who entered office mid-Congress and served a partial term. This includes those who won a special election after Congress convened, those who successfully contested an election, and Members whose office was established mid-Congress, such as when a new state is admitted to the Union.