62nd United States Congress
The 62nd United States Congress , made up of the House and Senate , was the United States' legislature . Its legislative term lasted from March 4, 1911 to March 4, 1913. All members of the House of Representatives and a third of the senators ( Class I ) were elected in the 1910 congressional elections. This resulted in a majority in the Senate for the Republican Party , which with William H. Taft also provided the president. The Democratic Party had a majority in the House of Representatives . During the legislative period there were a few resignations and deaths, but these did not change the majority. After the admission of the states of New Mexico and Arizona , the number of senators and deputies was increased to 96 and 435 respectively from the next legislative period. The Congress met in the American capital Washington, DC The United States at that time consisted of 48 states. The distribution of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1900 census .
Important events
- March 4, 1911: beginning of the legislative period of the 62nd Congress
- May 15, 1911: The Supreme Court dissolves the Standard Oil Company because of its illegal monopoly.
- January 6, 1912: New Mexico becomes a US state.
- February 14, 1912: Arizona becomes a US state.
- April 15, 1912: sinking of the Titanic .
- June 5, 1912: The United States Marines land in Cuba .
- June 18, 1912: Incumbent William Taft is again nominated for presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention in Chicago . He asserts himself against the former President Theodore Roosevelt . As a result, he runs as a candidate for the Progressive Party he founded on August 5th . This will take Taft and Roosevelt away from each other in the presidential election in November and enable Democrat Woodrow Wilson to win the election. This was nominated on June 25, 1912 at the Democratic National Convention .
- August 24, 1912: Creation of the Alaska Territory
- Oct. 30, 1912: Vice President James S. Sherman dies
- November 5, 1912: US presidential and congressional elections. In addition to Wilson's election victory as president, the Democrats also win a majority in both chambers.
- February 13, 1913: The 16th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified. It regulates the introduction of income tax.
The main laws
During the session of the 62nd Congress, the following federal laws were passed ( see also: Legislative procedure ):
- August 9, 1911: Act to increase the number of Representatives in the House to 435 after the accession of New Mexico and Arizona.
- August 24, 1912: Lloyd – La Follette Act
- February 13, 1913: Carlin Act
- March 1, 1913: Webb – Kenyon Act
- March 1, 1913: Railway Evaluation Act
- March 3, 1913: Publicity In Taking Evidence Act
- March 3, 1913: Virus-Serum Toxin Act
- March 3, 1913: Gould Amendment
- March 4, 1913: Arlington Memorial Amphitheater Act
- March 4, 1913: Road and Trails Fund Act
- March 4, 1913: Burnett Act
- March 4, 1913: Weeks – McLean Act
- March 4, 1913: Federal Revenue Sharing Act
- March 4, 1913: Rivers and Harbors Act of 1913
- March 4, 1913: Burnt Timber Act
- March 4, 1913: Labor Department Act
Composition according to parties
senate
- Democratic Party: 43
- Republican Party: 48 (majority)
- Vacant: 1
Total: 92
House of Representatives
- Democratic Party: 230 (majority)
- Republican Party: 162
- Others: 2
Total: 394
There were also seven congressional delegates who were not entitled to vote
Public officials
senate
- President of the Senate : James S. Sherman (R) until his death on October 30, 1912, then the office was vacant.
- President pro tempore : William P. Frye (R) until April 27, 1911. For the remainder of the Congress until March 4, 1913, five senators took turns in the office because no one could agree on a candidate.
House of Representatives
Leadership of the majority party
- Majority Leader: Oscar Underwood (D)
Leadership of the minority party
- Minority Leader: James Mann (R)
Senate members
The following senators represented their respective states in the 62nd Congress:
Members of the House of Representatives
The following congressmen represented the interests of their respective states in the 62nd Congress:
Members of the House of Representatives who are not entitled to vote:
- Alaska Territory : James Wickersham (R)
- Arizona Territory : Ralph H. Cameron (R) through February 14, 1912
- Territory of Hawaii : Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole (R)
- New Mexico Territory : William Henry Andrews (R) through January 6, 1912
-
Philippines :
- 1. Benito Legarda
- 2. Manuel Quezon
- Puerto Rico : Luis Muñoz Rivera (Unionist)
Web links
- bioguide.congress.gov (by entering 62 under Year OR Congress: you get a list of the members of the 62nd Congress with a link to the official biographies; English)