64th United States Congress
The 64th Congress of the United States , made up of the House and Senate , was the legislature of the United States . Its legislative period lasted from March 4, 1915 to March 4, 1917. All members of the House of Representatives and a third of the senators ( Class III ) were elected in the 1914 congressional elections. This resulted in a majority in both chambers for the Democratic Party , which with Woodrow Wilson also provided the president. The Republican Party only had the role in the opposition. During the legislative period there were a few resignations and deaths, but these did not change the majority. In the US Senate elections, the 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution was applied for the first time , stating that Senators are elected by the people of their respective states. 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 1910 census .
Important events
See also 1915 , 1916 and 1917 World politics is overshadowed by the events of the First World War , which has been underway in Europe since August 1914. The USA stayed out of the war until April 6, 1917.
- March 4, 1915: beginning of the legislature of the 64th Congress
- May 7, 1915: The British steamer RMS Lusitania is sunk by the German Navy. 128 were Americans among the 1200 or so dead.
- June 9, 1915: US Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan resigns.
- July 24, 1915: The excursion ship SS Eastland capsizes near Chicago , killing 844 people.
- July 28, 1915: The US begins the occupation of Haiti .
- August 5th - 23rd: A hurricane sweeps across New Orleans and claims 275 victims.
- March 8 and 9, 1916: In the course of the unrest in Mexico at the time, border incidents occur on the border with the USA when around 500 Mexicans attack the city of Columbus in New Mexico . 12 American soldiers die in the process. The Mexicans are eventually repulsed by an American cavalry unit. As a result, President Wilson sends 12,000 soldiers to control the Mexican border.
- May 5, 1916: The United States Marines capture the Dominican Republic .
- July 30, 1916: German agents cause the Black Tom explosion in Jersey City , New Jersey . There are at least 7 dead.
- November 7, 1916: US presidential and congressional elections. President Wilson will be re-elected. In the congressional elections, the Democratic Party wins a majority in the Senate. In the House of Representatives, the Republican Party has the most seats. However, with the help of MPs from smaller parties, the Democrats can secure a majority of the seats.
- January 11, 1917: German saboteurs trigger the so-called Kingsland explosion. The event is one of the reasons for the later American entry into the First World War.
- February 3, 1917: the US Senate breaks off diplomatic contacts with Germany.
The main laws
During the session of the 64th Congress, the following federal laws were passed ( see also: Legislative procedure ):
- May 15, 1916: Kern Amendment
- May 29, 1916: Fraudulent Advertising Act of 1916
- May 31, 1916: Tillman Act
- June 3, 1916: National Defense Act of 1916
- June 9, 1916: Chamberlain-Ferris Act
- July 11, 1916: Federal Aid Road Act of 1916
- July 11, 1916: Terminal Inspection Act of 1916
- July 17, 1916: Federal Farm Loan Act
- July 27, 1916: River and Harbors Act of 1916
- July 28, 1916: Space Basis Act
- July 28, 1916: Railway Mail Service Pay Act
- August 9, 1916: Uniform Bill of Lading Act of 1916
- August 11, 1916: Irrigation District Act of 1916
- August 11, 1916: Wildlife Game Refuges Act of 1916
- August 11, 1916: Grain Standards Act of 1916
- August 11, 1916: Cotton Futures Act of 1916
- August 11, 1916: Brush Disposal Act of 1916
- August 11, 1916: Warehouse Act of 1916
- August 25, 1916: National Park Service Act
- August 29, 1916: 2nd Uniform Bill of Lading Act of 1916
- August 29, 1916: Jones Act (affects the Philippines )
- August 29, 1916: Federal Possession and Control Act of 1916
- August 29, 1916: Army Appropriations Act of 1916
- August 29, 1916: Naval Act of 1916
- August 29, 1916: Naval Reserve Force Act
- August 31, 1916: Federal Standard Container Act
- August 31, 1916: Standard Fruits and Vegetable Baskets and Containers Act of 1916
- September 1, 1916: Keating-Owen Act
- September 3, 1916: Adamson Act
- September 7, 1916: Merchant Marine Act of 1916
- September 7, 1916: Workingmen's Compensation Act
- September 8, 1916: Anti-Dumping Act of 1916
- September 8, 1916: Emergency Revenue Act of 1916
- October 20, 1916: Special Air Preparedness Act
- December 29, 1916: Stock-Raising Homestead Act
- February 5, 1917: Immigration Act of 1917
- February 22, 1917: Federal Interpleader Act of 1917
- February 23, 1917: Smith-Hughes Act
- February 26, 1917: Mount McKinley National Park see also Denali National Park
- March 1, 1917: Flood Control Act of 1917
- March 2, 1917: Jones-Shafroth Act
- March 3, 1917: Reed Amendment
- March 3, 1917: Sheppard Bone-Dry Act
- March 3, 1917: Special Preparedness Fund Act of 1917
- March 4, 1917: Timber Export Act
Composition according to parties
senate
- Democratic Party: 56 (majority)
- Republican Party: 40
- Others (0
Total: 96
House of Representatives
- Democratic Party: 230 (majority)
- Republican Party: 196
- Others: 9
Total: 435
There were also five congressional delegates who were not entitled to vote
Public officials
senate
- President of the Senate : Thomas Riley Marshall (D)
- President per tempore : James Paul Clarke (D) until October 1, 1916, then William Saulsbury (D)
Leadership of the majority party
- Majority Leader: J. Hamilton Lewis (D)
Leadership of the minority party
- Minority Leader (Whip): Charles Curtis (R)
House of Representatives
Leadership of the majority party
- Majority Leader: Claude Kitchin (D)
Leadership of the minority party
- Minority Leader: James Mann (R)
Senate members
The following senators represented their respective states in the 64th Congress:
Members of the House of Representatives
The following congressmen represented the interests of their respective states in the 64th Congress:
Members of the House of Representatives who are not entitled to vote:
- Alaska Territory : James Wickersham (R)
- Territory of Hawaii : Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole (R)
-
Philippines :
- 1. Manuel Earnshaw
- 2. Manuel Quezon until October 15, 1916
- Puerto Rico : Luis Muñoz Rivera (Unionist)
Web links
- bioguide.congress.gov (by entering 64 under Year OR Congress: you get a list of the members of the 64th Congress with a link to the official biographies; English)