As Joe Biden is inaugurated as America's 46th President, browse his votes as a U.S. Senator
Visualize the 117th Senate and its members, and compare it with past congresses
Visualize the 117th House and its members, and compare it with past congresses
Under the direction of President John Adams, the Congress passed the Sedition Act of 1798, which made it a criminal offence to publish statements critical of the federal government. The first individual to be tried under the law was Rep. Matthew Lyon, who unsurprisingly had voted against its passage. Lyon was re-elected from jail.
In 1999, Congress repealed the 65 year old Glass-Steagall provisions, which required banks to separate investments and deposits. Critics allege this led to risky investment practices, and subsequently the 2008 financial crisis.
