79th United States Congress
The 79th United States Congress , made up of the House and Senate , was the United States' legislature . Its legislative term lasted from January 3, 1945 to January 3, 1947. All members of the House of Representatives and a third of the Senators ( Class III ) were elected in the state of Maine in the November 1944 and September congressional elections. This resulted in a majority in both chambers for the Democratic Party , which, with Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, also made up the presidents. The Republican Party only had the role of the opposition party. 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 1940 census .
Important events
- January 3, 1945: beginning of the legislative period of the 79th Congress
- January 30th - February 2nd: Conference of Malta
- February 4-11, 1945: Yalta Conference
- April 12, 1945: After the death of President Roosevelt, the previous Vice President Harry S. Truman takes over his office.
- May 8, 1945: The Second World War ends in Europe with the German surrender .
- June 26, 1945: The United Nations is founded
- August 2, 1945: Signing of the Potsdam Agreement .
- August 6 and 9, 1945: Atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- September 2, 1945: After the Japanese also capitulated, the Second World War ends in the Pacific region. Until then, the work of the Congress had also been shaped by the events of the war.
- November 20, 1945: The Nuremberg Trials begin .
- July 4, 1946: With the Treaty of Manila, the United States granted independence to the Philippines .
- September 30 and October 1, 1946: Judgments of the Nuremberg Trials: twelve death sentences, seven prison sentences and three acquittals.
- November 6, 1946: Congress and gubernatorial elections are held in the United States. The election winners are the Republicans, who for the first time since 1933 can win a majority in both chambers of Congress.
- 1946: The beginning of the Cold War is looming.
The main laws
During the session of the 79th Congress, the following federal laws were passed ( see also: Legislative procedure ):
- March 9, 1945: McCarran-Ferguson Act
- July 31, 1945: Bretton Woods Agreements Act, see also Bretton Woods System .
- July 31, 1945: Export-Import Bank Act of 1945
- December 20, 1945: United Nations Participation Act
- December 28, 1945: War Brides Act
- February 18, 1946: Rescission Act of 1946
- February 20, 1946: Employment Act
- May 13, 1946: Federal Airport Act
- June 4, 1946: Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act
- June 11, 1946: Administrative Procedure Act
- July 2, 1946: Luce-Celler Act of 1946
- July 3, 1946: Hobbs Act
- July 5, 1946: Lanham Act
- August 1, 1946: United States Atomic Energy Act of 1946
- August 2, 1946: Legislative Reorganization Act
- August 2, 1946: Federal Tort Claims Act
- August 2, 1946: Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946
- August 13, 1946: Foreign Service Act
- August 13, 1946: Hospital Survey and Construction Act
- August 14, 1946: Farmers Home Administration Act
Composition according to parties
senate
- Democratic Party: 57 (majority)
- Republican Party: 38
- Others: 1
Total: 96
House of Representatives
- Democratic Party: 242 (majority)
- Republican Party: 191
- Others: 2
Total: 435
There were also four congressional delegates who were not entitled to vote
Public officials
senate
- President of the Senate : Henry A. Wallace (D) until January 20, 1945, then Harry S. Truman until April 12, 1945. Then vacancy until January 3, 1949.
- President pro tempore : Kenneth McKellar (D)
Leadership of the majority party
- Majority Leader: Alben W. Barkley (D)
- Majority swip: J. Lister Hill (D)
Leadership of the minority party
- Minority Leader: Wallace H. White (R)
- Minority whip: Kenneth S. Wherry (R)
House of Representatives
- House Speaker : Sam Rayburn (D)
Leadership of the majority party
- Majority Leader: John W. McCormack (D)
- Majority swip: John Sparkman , (D)
Leadership of the minority party
- Minority Leader: Joseph William Martin (R)
- Minority whip: Leslie C. Arends (R)
Senate members
The following senators represented their respective states in the 79th Congress:
Members of the House of Representatives
The following congressmen represented the interests of their respective states in the 79th Congress:
Members of the House of Representatives who are not entitled to vote:
-
Alaska Territory :
- Bob Bartlett (D)
- Hawaii Territory :
-
Philippines :
- Carlos P. Rómulo until July 4, 1946
-
Puerto Rico :
-
Jesús T. Piñero until September 2, 1946
- Antonio Fernós Isern from September 11, 1946
-
Jesús T. Piñero until September 2, 1946
Web links
- bioguide.congress.gov (by entering 79 under Year OR Congress: you get a list of the members of the 79th Congress with a link to the official biographies; English)