84th Congress of the United States
The 84th Congress of the United States , consisting of the House and Senate , was the legislature of the United States . Its legislative term lasted from January 3, 1955 to January 3, 1957. All members of the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senators ( Class II ) were elected in the state of Maine in the November 1954 and September congressional elections. There was a majority in favor of the Democratic Party in both chambers . The Republican Party only had the role in the opposition. However, they made Dwight D. Eisenhower the president. In the Senate, however, there was only a Democratic majority because two independents voted with the Democrats. 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. 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 1950 census .
Important events
- January 3, 1955: beginning of the legislative period of the 84th Congress
- January 28, 1955: Congress authorizes the President to take military action to protect Formosa, Taiwan .
- February 12, 1955: President Eisenhower sends first American advisors to South Vietnam.
- November 5, 1955: Racial segregation on trains and buses is prohibited.
- December 1, 1955: Rosa Parks is arrested for refusing to stand up for a white person on a bus.
- December 5, 1955: The American Federation of Labor (AFL) and Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) merge to form AFL-CIO .
- March 12, 1956: 96 members of Congress sign the Southern Manifesto , a letter of protest against racial integration in public institutions in the United States.
- November 6, 1956: Presidential and Congress elections. President Eisenhower will be re-elected. The Democrats secure a majority in both chambers of Congress.
This period was marked by the events of the civil rights movement and the Cold War .
The main laws
During the session of the 84th Congress, the following federal laws were passed ( see also: Legislative procedure ):
- January 29, 1955: Formosa Resolution
- March 31, 1955: Career Incentive Act
- June 28, 1955: Flood Control and Coastal Emergency Act
- July 11, 1955: The law requiring the In God We Trust inscription on all official American currency notes and coins.
- July 14, 1955: Air Pollution Control Act
- July 23, 1955: Multiple Surface Use Mining Act
- August 9, 1955: Reserve Forces Act
- August 11, 1955: National Housing Act of 1955
- August 12, 1955: Poliomyelitis Vaccination Assistance Act
- June 29, 1956: Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956
- July 30, 1956: Health Research Facilities Act
- August 8, 1956: Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956
Composition according to parties
senate
- Democratic Party: 47 (majority)
- Republican Party: 47
- Others: 2 (voted with Democrats)
Total: 96
House of Representatives
- Democratic Party: 232 (majority)
- Republican Party: 203
Total: 435
There were also three congressional delegates who were not entitled to vote
Public officials
senate
Leadership of the majority party
- Majority Leader: Lyndon B. Johnson (D)
- Majority swip: Earle C. Clements (D)
Leadership of the minority party
- Minority Leader: William F. Knowland (R)
- Minority whip : Leverett Saltonstall (R)
House of Representatives
- House Speaker : Sam Rayburn (D)
Leadership of the majority party
- Majority Leader: John W. McCormack (D)
- Majority swip: Carl Albert (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 84th Congress:
Members of the House of Representatives
The following congressmen represented the interests of their respective states in the 84th Congress:
Members of the House of Representatives who are not entitled to vote:
Web links
- bioguide.congress.gov (by entering 84 under Year OR Congress: you get a list of the members of the 84th Congress with a link to the official biographies; English)