The 110th Congress marked a historic shift in power and a changing legislative landscape

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Running from 2007 to 2009, the 110th Congress was defined by the first Democratic majority in both chambers since 1993. It saw Nancy Pelosi become the first female Speaker of the House and introduced unprecedented diversity, while grappling with the Iraq War, a financial crisis, and the start of the Great Recession.

The 110th Congress operated during the final two years of George W. Bush’s presidency, spanning January 3, 2007, to January 3, 2009. Democrats secured control of both the House and the Senate, ending a long period of Republican dominance. In the Senate, the party held 49 seats, but with two independents caucusing alongside them, they maintained an operational majority. This session was notable for being the final time Republican senators from Minnesota, New Mexico, and Oregon served, as these seats were lost or vacated by the end of the term.

Legislative activity was intense and often contentious. A primary focus was the Iraq War, specifically the 2007 troop surge. Congress debated the president's proposal, with the House initially passing a non-binding resolution of opposition. While a $124 billion emergency spending bill was vetoed by the president due to its inclusion of withdrawal timelines, a subsequent version passed without those mandates but included benchmarks for the Iraqi government. The session also saw the House establish a special committee to examine voting irregularities following a disputed vote in August 2007.

Beyond foreign policy, the 110th Congress navigated a rapidly deteriorating economic environment. The Great Recession began in January 2008, culminating in the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September of that year. Amidst this, the legislature enacted significant measures, including the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The body also set a record for the highest number of cloture votes in the Senate in December 2007, reflecting the high-stakes political environment of the era.

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