86th Congress of the United States
The 86th Congress of the United States , consisting of the House and Senate , was the legislature of the United States . Its legislative term lasted from January 3, 1959 to January 3, 1961. All House representatives and one-third of the Senators ( Class I ) were elected in Maine in November 1958 and September in the congressional election. There was a majority in favor of the Democratic Party in both chambers . The Republican Party only had the role in the opposition. In the course of the legislative period there were minor changes in personnel due to resignations and deaths, but these did not change the majority. In addition, senators and congressmen from the states of Alaska and Hawaii that were admitted to the union in 1959 were elected for the first time . Until the official adjustment in the next but one Congress, two overhang seats were created in the House of Representatives, so that the number of MPs rose from 435 to 437. The Congress met in the American capital Washington, DC The United States has consisted of 50 states since the admission of the two above-mentioned states. The distribution of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1950 census .
Important events
- January 3, 1959: beginning of the legislative period of the 86th Congress.
- January 3, 1959: Alaska becomes the 49th state in the United States.
- January 7, 1959: The United States recognizes the new government of Cuba under Fidel Castro .
- February 12, 1959: Commemoration in Congress for the 150th birthday of Abraham Lincoln .
- August 21, 1959: Hawaii becomes the 50th state in the United States.
- December 1, 1959: The Antarctic Treaty is signed.
- January 19, 1960: The Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and the United States is signed.
- May 1, 1960: In the U-2 incident, an American spy plane is shot down by the Soviet Air Force.
- November 8, 1960: Presidential and Congressional elections in the United States. Democrat John F. Kennedy is elected to succeed President Dwight D. Eisenhower . The Democrats also maintain their majority in both chambers of Congress.
The main laws
During the session of the 86th Congress, the following federal laws were passed ( see also: Legislative procedure ):
- 1959: Airport Construction Act
- September 14, 1959: Landrum-Griffin Act
- May 6, 1960: Civil Rights Act of 1960
- July 14, 1960: Flood Control Act of 1960
- September 13, 1960: Social Security Amendments
- 1960: Sustained Yield Act of 1960
Composition according to parties
senate
Political party (Shading shows majority party)
|
Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democrats | republican | Others | Vacant | ||
85th Congress | 50 | 45 | 0 | 100 | 1 |
86th Congress | 65 | 35 | 0 | 100 | |
87th Congress | 62 | 37 | 0 | 100 | 1 |
House of Representatives
Political party (Shading shows majority party)
|
Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democrats | republican | Others | Vacant | ||
85th Congress | 234 | 201 | 0 | 435 | 0 |
86th Congress | 283 | 153 | 1 | 437 | 0 |
87th Congress | 261 | 173 | 0 | 437 | 3 |
There were also two congressional delegates who were not entitled to vote
Public officials
senate
Leadership of the majority party
- Majority Leader: Lyndon B. Johnson (D)
- Majority swip: Mike Mansfield (D)
Leadership of the minority party
- Minority Leader: Everett Dirksen (R)
- Minority whip : Thomas Kuchel (R)
House of Representatives
- House Speaker : Sam Rayburn (D)
Leadership of the majority party
- Majority Leader: John W. McCormack (D)
- Majority swip: Carl Albert (D)
Leadership of the minority party
- Minority leader: Charles A. Halleck (R)
- Minority whip: Leslie C. Arends (R)
Senate members
The following senators represented their respective states in the 86th Congress:
Members of the House of Representatives
The following congressmen represented the interests of their respective states in the 86th Congress:
Members of the House of Representatives who are not entitled to vote:
-
Hawaii Territory :
- John Anthony Burns (D) until August 21, 1959
- Puerto Rico :
Web links
- bioguide.congress.gov (by entering 86 under Year OR Congress: you get a list of the members of the 86th Congress with a link to the official biographies; English)