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%