The 33rd Congress of the United States convened from December 4, 1853, to March 3, 1855. It was marked by significant debates over issues such as slavery and territorial expansion, particularly in relation to the newly acquired lands from the Mexican-American War. The Congress was composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate, with a total of 234 members in the House and 62 in the Senate. During this Congress, the Kansas-Nebraska Act was introduced, which allowed new territories to decide on the legality of slavery through popular sovereignty. This act intensified sectional tensions between the North and South, contributing to the rise of the Republican Party and setting the stage for future conflicts leading up to the American Civil War.