87th Congress of the United States
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
- Senate President : Richard Nixon (R) until January 20, 1961, then Lyndon B. Johnson (D)
- President pro tempore : Carl Hayden (D)
Leadership of the majority party
- Majority Leader: Mike Mansfield (D)
- Majority swip: Hubert H. Humphrey (D)
Leadership of the minority party
- Minority Leader: Everett Dirksen (R)
- Minority whip : Thomas Kuchel (R)
House of Representatives
- House Speaker : Sam Rayburn (D) until November 16, 1961, then John W. McCormack from January 10, 1962 .
Leadership of the majority party
- Majority Leader: John W. McCormack (D) until January 10, 1962, then Carl Albert (D) since January 10, 1962
- Majority swip: Carl Albert (D) until January 10, 1962, then Hale Boggs (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 87th Congress:
Members of the House of Representatives
The following congressmen represented the interests of their respective states in the 87th Congress:
Members of the House of Representatives who are not entitled to vote:
Web links
- 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)