This day in politics

January

• January 4, 2007: Nancy Pelosi becomes the first woman elected Speaker of the House. More
• January 6, 2021: Rioters attack the U.S. Capitol as Congress counts the electoral votes. More
• January 7, 2023: Kevin McCarthy is elected Speaker on the 15th ballot, the most since 1859. More
• January 13, 2021: The House impeaches President Donald Trump a second time. More
• January 16, 1919: The 18th Amendment is ratified, starting Prohibition. More
• January 20, 1937: Franklin D. Roosevelt's second inauguration is the first held on January 20. More
• January 21, 2010: The Supreme Court decides Citizens United v. FEC, allowing unlimited independent political spending by corporations and unions. More
• January 23, 1933: The 20th Amendment is ratified, moving the start of Congress to January 3 and the inauguration to January 20. More
• January 23, 1964: The 24th Amendment is ratified, banning poll taxes in federal elections. More

February

• February 3, 1870: The 15th Amendment is ratified: the vote can't be denied because of race. More
• February 3, 1913: The 16th Amendment is ratified, allowing a federal income tax. More
• February 7, 1795: The 11th Amendment is ratified, limiting lawsuits against states in federal court. More
• February 10, 1967: The 25th Amendment is ratified, covering presidential succession and disability. More
• February 17, 1964: In Wesberry v. Sanders, the Supreme Court requires House districts with roughly equal populations. More
• February 24, 1868: The House impeaches President Andrew Johnson, the first presidential impeachment. More
• February 27, 1951: The 22nd Amendment is ratified, limiting presidents to two terms. More

March

• March 4, 1789: The First Congress convenes in New York City. More
• March 26, 1962: In Baker v. Carr, the Supreme Court rules that courts can hear challenges to how districts are drawn. More
• March 29, 1961: The 23rd Amendment is ratified, giving Washington, D.C., electoral votes. More

April

• April 8, 1913: The 17th Amendment is ratified: voters elect senators directly. More
• April 30, 1789: George Washington is inaugurated as the first president. More

May

• May 7, 1992: The 27th Amendment, on congressional pay raises, is ratified, 202 years after it was proposed. More
• May 20, 1993: President Bill Clinton signs the National Voter Registration Act, known as "Motor Voter." More

June

• June 15, 1804: The 12th Amendment is ratified: electors vote separately for president and vice president. More
• June 15, 1964: In Reynolds v. Sims, the Supreme Court applies "one person, one vote" to state legislatures. More
• June 21, 1788: New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, putting it into effect.
• June 25, 2013: In Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court strikes down the Voting Rights Act's coverage formula. More

July

• July 1, 1971: The 26th Amendment is ratified, lowering the voting age to 18. More
• July 2, 1964: President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act.
• July 4, 1776: The Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence.
• July 9, 1868: The 14th Amendment is ratified: citizenship, due process and equal protection. More

August

• August 6, 1965: President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act. More
• August 9, 1974: Richard Nixon resigns the presidency. More
• August 18, 1920: The 19th Amendment is ratified: the vote can't be denied because of sex. More

September

• September 17, 1787: Delegates sign the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia. More
• September 25, 1789: Congress sends the proposed Bill of Rights to the states. More

October

• October 1, 2025: The longest full government shutdown on record begins; it ends November 12. More
• October 3, 2023: The House removes Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the first Speaker ousted by a vote. More
• October 25, 2023: Mike Johnson is elected Speaker of the House. More
• October 29, 2002: President George W. Bush signs the Help America Vote Act. More

November

• November 2, 1976: Jimmy Carter wins the presidency over Gerald Ford, 297 electoral votes to 240. More
• November 2, 1982: Midterm elections: President Ronald Reagan's party, the Republicans, lose 26 House seats. More
• November 2, 2004: George W. Bush wins the presidency over John Kerry, 286 electoral votes to 251. More
• November 2, 2010: Midterm elections: President Barack Obama's party, the Democrats, lose 63 House seats. More
• November 3, 1964: Lyndon B. Johnson wins the presidency over Barry Goldwater, 486 electoral votes to 52. More
• November 3, 1970: Midterm elections: President Richard Nixon's party, the Republicans, lose 12 House seats. More
• November 3, 1992: Bill Clinton wins the presidency over George H. W. Bush, 370 electoral votes to 168. More
• November 3, 1998: Midterm elections: President Bill Clinton's party, the Democrats, gain 4 House seats. More
• November 3, 2020: Joe Biden wins the presidency over Donald Trump, 306 electoral votes to 232. More
• November 4, 1980: Ronald Reagan wins the presidency over Jimmy Carter, 489 electoral votes to 49. More
• November 4, 1986: Midterm elections: President Ronald Reagan's party, the Republicans, lose 5 House seats. More
• November 4, 2008: Barack Obama wins the presidency over John McCain, 365 electoral votes to 173. More
• November 4, 2014: Midterm elections: President Barack Obama's party, the Democrats, lose 13 House seats. More
• November 5, 1968: Richard Nixon wins the presidency over Hubert Humphrey, 301 electoral votes to 191. More
• November 5, 1974: Midterm elections: President Gerald R. Ford's party, the Republicans, lose 48 House seats. More
• November 5, 1996: Bill Clinton wins the presidency over Bob Dole, 379 electoral votes to 159. More
• November 5, 2002: Midterm elections: President George W. Bush's party, the Republicans, gain 8 House seats. More
• November 5, 2024: Donald Trump wins the presidency over Kamala Harris, 312 electoral votes to 226. More
• November 6, 1962: Midterm elections: President John F. Kennedy's party, the Democrats, lose 4 House seats. More
• November 6, 1984: Ronald Reagan wins the presidency over Walter Mondale, 525 electoral votes to 13. More
• November 6, 1990: Midterm elections: President George H. W. Bush's party, the Republicans, lose 8 House seats. More
• November 6, 2012: Barack Obama wins the presidency over Mitt Romney, 332 electoral votes to 206. More
• November 6, 2018: Midterm elections: President Donald Trump's party, the Republicans, lose 41 House seats. More
• November 7, 1972: Richard Nixon wins the presidency over George McGovern, 520 electoral votes to 17. More
• November 7, 1978: Midterm elections: President Jimmy Carter's party, the Democrats, lose 15 House seats. More
• November 7, 2000: George W. Bush wins the presidency over Al Gore, 271 electoral votes to 266. More
• November 7, 2006: Midterm elections: President George W. Bush's party, the Republicans, lose 30 House seats. More
• November 8, 1960: John F. Kennedy wins the presidency over Richard Nixon, 303 electoral votes to 219. More
• November 8, 1966: Midterm elections: President Lyndon B. Johnson's party, the Democrats, lose 47 House seats. More
• November 8, 1988: George H. W. Bush wins the presidency over Michael Dukakis, 426 electoral votes to 111. More
• November 8, 1994: Midterm elections: President Bill Clinton's party, the Democrats, lose 54 House seats. More
• November 8, 2016: Donald Trump wins the presidency over Hillary Clinton, 304 electoral votes to 227. More
• November 8, 2022: Midterm elections: President Joe Biden's party, the Democrats, lose 9 House seats. More
• November 12, 2025: The longest full government shutdown on record ends after the House passes a funding bill. More

December

• December 5, 1933: The 21st Amendment is ratified, ending Prohibition. More
• December 6, 1865: The 13th Amendment is ratified, abolishing slavery. More
• December 12, 2000: The Supreme Court's ruling in Bush v. Gore ends the Florida recount. More
• December 15, 1791: The Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments, is ratified. More
• December 18, 2019: The House impeaches President Donald Trump for the first time. More
• December 19, 1998: The House impeaches President Bill Clinton. More
• December 22, 2018: A government shutdown begins that lasts until January 25, 2019. More

Amendment ratification dates: National Archives. Election results: our presidential and midterm history pages.