87th Congress of the United States

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The 87th Congress of the United States , composed of the House and Senate , was the legislature of the United States . Its legislative period lasted from January 3, 1961 to January 3, 1963. All members of the House of Representatives and a third of the senators ( Class II ) were elected in November 1960 in the congressional elections. In both chambers there was a majority for the Democratic Party , which, along with John F. Kennedy, also provided the US President. 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. Senators and congressmen from the states of Alaska and Hawaii , which were admitted to the union in 1959, were also elected in these elections . As in the previous Congress, there were two overhang seats in the House of Representatives, so that the number of MPs rose from 435 to 437. The adjustment took place with the next legislative period. Congress met in the American capital Washington, DC The distribution of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1950 census .

Important events

See also entries under 1961 and 1962

  • January 3, 1961: beginning of the legislative period of the 87th Congress
  • January 20, 1961: The new President John F. Kennedy, also elected in November 1960, is introduced into his new office.
  • March 29, 1961: The 23rd Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified by the necessary majority of states. This will allow the District of Columbia to participate in presidential elections in the future.
  • April 17, 1961: Start of the Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba . The company fails on April 19th.
  • May 4, 1961: The Freedom Riders take bus trips to check compliance with the desegregation ordered by the Supreme Court.
  • May 5, 1961: Alan Shepard becomes the first American in space
  • May 25, 1961: President Kennedy declares landing on the moon to be one of his goals in a decade before Congress.
  • November 20, 1961: Funeral of Sam Rayburn, the late Speaker of the House of Representatives.
  • February 3, 1962: An economic embargo is issued against Cuba .
  • February 20, 1962: John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the earth in a spaceship.
  • October 4-28, 1962: The Cuban Missile Crisis seriously threatens world peace.

The main laws

During the session of the 87th Congress, the following federal laws were passed ( see also: Legislative procedure ):

  • May 1, 1961: Area Redevelopment Act
  • August 30, 1961: Oil Pollution Act of 1961
  • September 4, 1961: Foreign Assistance Act
  • September 13, 1961: Interstate Wire Act of 1961
  • September 21, 1961: Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961
  • September 22, 1961: Peace Corps Act of 1961 to create the Peace Corps .
  • September 26th Arms Control and Disarmament Act of 1961
  • October 15, 1961: Community Health Services and Facilities Act
  • March 15, 1962: Manpower Development and Training Act
  • June 28, 1962: Migration and Refugee Assistance Act
  • August 13, 1962: Communications Satellite Act of 1962
  • August 27, 1962: Congress passes the 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution , which is ratified in January 1964 by the necessary majority of the states.
  • October 11, 1962: Trade Expansion Act
  • October 23, 1962: Bribery Act, 1962
  • October 23, 1962: Vaccination Assistance Act
  • October 23, 1962: Rivers and Harbors Act of 1962

Composition according to parties

senate

Political party
(Shading shows majority party)
Total
Democrats republican Others Vacant
86th Congress 65 35 0 100 0
87th Congress 62 37 0 100 1
88th Congress 65 35 0 100

House of Representatives

Political party
(Shading shows majority party)
Total
Democrats republican Independent Vacant
86th Congress 283 153 1 437 0
87th Congress 261 173 0 437 3
88th Congress 255 177 0 435 3

There was also a congress delegate who was not entitled to vote

Public officials

senate

Leadership of the majority party

Leadership of the minority party

House of Representatives

Leadership of the majority party

Leadership of the minority party

Senate members

The following senators represented their respective states in the 87th Congress:

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

new York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Members of the House of Representatives

The following congressmen represented the interests of their respective states in the 87th Congress:

Alabama 9 constituencies

Alaska state-wide election

Arizona 2 constituencies

Arkansas 6 constituencies.

California 30 constituencies.

Colorado 4 constituencies

Connecticut 5 constituencies. In addition, a member was elected nationwide

Delaware state-wide choice

Florida 8 constituencies

Georgia 10 constituencies

Hawaii state-wide election

Idaho 2 constituencies

Illinois 25 constituencies

Indiana 11 constituencies

Iowa 8 constituencies

Kansas 6 constituencies.

Kentucky 8 constituencies


Louisiana 8 constituencies

Maine 3 constituencies

Maryland 7 constituencies.

Massachusetts 14 constituencies

Michigan 18 constituencies


Minnesota 9 constituencies

Mississippi 6 constituencies

Missouri 11 constituencies

Montana 2 electoral districts

Nebraska 4 constituencies

Nevada state-wide election

New Hampshire 2 electoral divisions

New Jersey 14 constituencies

New Mexico State-wide election for two MPs

New York 43 constituencies

North Carolina 12 constituencies

North Dakota 2 MPs who were state-elected

Ohio 23 constituencies

Oklahoma 6 constituencies

Oregon 4 constituencies

Pennsylvania 30 constituencies

Rhode Island 2 electoral districts

South Carolina 6 constituencies.

South Dakota 2 constituencies

Tennessee 9 constituencies

Texas 22 constituencies

Utah 2 constituencies

Vermont 1 constituency (state-wide)

Virginia 10 constituencies

Washington 7 constituencies

West Virginia 6 constituencies

Wisconsin 10 constituencies

Wyoming state-wide elections

Members of the House of Representatives who are not entitled to vote:

Web links

Commons : 87th United States Congress  - Collection of Pictures, Videos, and Audio Files
  • bioguide.congress.gov (by entering 87 under Year OR Congress: you get a list of the members of the 87th Congress with a link to the official biographies; English)