Percent per Decade of Congress in Session

[HankW501]

I calculated the portion of each decade since the 1790s in which the U.S. Congress has been in session.  The results are listed below.  During most of the 19th century they were out of session more than they were in session.  That's not really surprising when you consider that the federal government is supposed to be doing only the tasks specifically assigned to it by the U.S. Constitution or what the Constitution specifically prohibits the states or its people from doing.  Lately, U.S. Senators and Representatives get a week or two for the December holidays and that's it.

1790-1799 : 45.2%
1800-1809 : 37.6%
1810-1819 : 40.3%
1820-1829 : 36.6%
1830-1839 : 42.4%
1840-1849 : 49.4%
1850-1859 : 49.3%
1860-1869 : 56.9%
1870-1879 : 49.4%
1880-1889 : 50.2%
1890-1899 : 53.1%
1900-1909 : 43.6%
1910-1919 : 72.9%
1920-1929 : 54.6%
1930-1939 : 53.9%
1940-1949 : 91.1%
1950-1959 : 69.0%
1960-1969 : 81.0%
1970-1979 : 87.8%
1980-1989 : 87.2%
1990-1999 : 86.6%
2000-2009 : 93.3%
2010-2014 : 97.9%

[Antonio the Sixth]

Strikingly, this appears to be almost entirely uncorrelated with Congress' productivity.

[Vega]

Well, considering the means of transportation for many of those decades, I can't blame them for being under 50%.

[Earthling]

So, they work more and do less. Impressive.

During the 1930's Congress was there just half of time and created the New Deal, now congress is almost always in DC and they can't even reach the most simple of deals.

[AggregateDemand]

535 members is about 235 too many

[Vega]

535 members is about 235 too many

Not really. In my opinion it's still under representing the country.

[Türkisblau]

535 members is about 235 too many

Not really. In my opinion it's still under representing the country.

Anyone saying there should be less reps is just being hilarious. The Founders would be appalled if they knew 750,000 Americans only had 1 representative.

[Antonio the Sixth]

535 members is about 235 too many

Not really. In my opinion it's still under representing the country.

It's about 465 too few, really.

[Slander and/or Libel]

535 members is about 235 too many

Not really. In my opinion it's still under representing the country.

It's about 465 too few, really.

At least.