The Congress
For 200 years, the United States Congress has been one of the country's most important and least understood institutions. Using historical photographs and newsreels, evocative live footage and interviews, Ken Burns chronicles the events that have shaped the first 200 years of congress and, in turn, our country.
Episodes
-
The Congress
S1 E1 - 1h 29m
For 200 years, the United States Congress has been one of the country's most important and least understood institutions. Using historical photographs and newsreels, evocative live footage and interviews, Ken Burns chronicles the events that have shaped the first 200 years of congress and, in turn, our country.
Extras + Features
-
The Most Recognizable Building in America
2m 38s
Completed in 1800, the United States Capitol is perhaps the most recognizable building in America — it is a building in which countless historical decisions have been made.
-
The 17th Amendment
2m 34s
The 63rd Congress was the last Congress before the 17th Amendment transferred the election of senators from the state legislators to the people — the greatest single change in Congress’ history.
-
The Engine of Democracy
4m 45s
The United States Congress, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives, is known as “the engine of democracy.”
-
Importance of the First Congress
38s
David Broder talks about the importance of the first congress.
-
The Real Reason Members Vote For or Against Legislation
30s
David McCullough talks about the real reason members vote for or against legislation.
WETA Passport
Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.
Similar Shows
![D-Day: The Price of Freedom: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/17/228422-NvQXKCc-show-poster2x3-t9lB4BU.jpg?itok=JKQfRn84)
D-Day: The Price of Freedom
History
![The Tenth Inning: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/17/3037-0Lkats3CkqrmJ6GHAbXkg.jpg?itok=X4ahCw-Y)
The Tenth Inning
History
![Keeper of the Flame: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/17/283905-gxzqzla-show-poster2x3-hiNFDZg.jpg?itok=T41Odpy7)
Keeper of the Flame
History
![After Auschwitz: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/17/220479-H6CgJ99-show-poster2x3-wsKgzSf.jpg?itok=2yHd4TON)
After Auschwitz
History
![Charlotte Mansfield: A Woman Photographer Goes to War: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/17/205455-OloSDxm-show-poster2x3-qb0u55C.jpg?itok=kG20qDb5)
![Above and Beyond: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/16/252861-uijiUzu-show-poster2x3-jzwM1pn.jpg?itok=OJThIUc6)
Above and Beyond
History
![Guru Nanak: The Founder of Sikhism - Life and Legacy: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/16/265364-SVrXsCu-show-poster2x3-0VwfJYr.jpg?itok=wmQdorbu)
![Constitution USA with Peter Sagal: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/17/185076-EB2UdoInb2R8ZYtfvA7Ag.jpg?itok=doQCU5Wl)
![Becoming Frederick Douglass: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/06/18/215571-z2j39WD-show-poster2x3-i2UfRwr.jpg?itok=XxAZ5hn3)
Becoming Frederick Douglass
History
![Letters from Baghdad: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2022/01/28/4046-tyKBSrk-show-poster2x3-TEk3Q8l.jpg?itok=LQ0wQqQK)
Letters from Baghdad
History