Electoral Commission

Electoral Commission, group of 15 members (5 senators, 5 representatives, 5 Supreme Court justices) created by Congress in 1877 to determine the winner of the presidential election of 1876. Discrepancies in electoral votes resulted in Democrats and Republicans both claiming victory. Congress carefully selected 7 members from each party, but the 2 Democratic and 2 Republican justices, who had power to choose the fifth justice, were forced to select a Republican after the only independent chosen decided to run for office instead of serving on the commission. The Republican majority of 8 to 7 resulted in a strict party vote electing Republican Rutherford B. Hayes over Democrat Samuel J. Tilden.