85th United States Congress

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The 85th 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, 1957 to January 3, 1959. All members of the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senators ( Class III ) were elected in Maine in the November 1956 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 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

See also 1957 and 1958

  • January 3, 1957: beginning of the legislative period of the 85th Congress
  • January 5, 1957: President Eisenhower proclaims the Eisenhower Doctrine named after him
  • January 20, 1957: President Eisenhower and Vice President Richard Nixon inducted into their second terms.
  • August 21, 1957: President Eisenhower announces a two-year halt to nuclear testing.
  • August 28, 1957: Senator Strom Thurmond speaks 24 hours and 18 minutes non-stop in the Senate against the 1957 Civil Rights Act . This is a new record for the length of speeches in the US Senate.
  • September 24, 1957: Race riot in Little Rock , Arkansas . President Eisenhower sends soldiers to secure entry to Central High School in Little Rock. See also Little Rock Nine .
  • October 4, 1957: The Soviet Union sends Sputnik 1, the first satellite into space.
  • October 21, 1957: The first smaller combat units of the US military are relocated to Vietnam .
  • January 31, 1958: The USA launches Explorer 1, its first space satellite.
  • October 1, 1958: NASA is founded .

The main laws

During the session of the 85th Congress, the following federal laws were passed ( see also: Legislative procedure ):

  • August 14, 1957: Airways Modernization Act
  • September 2, 1957: Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act
  • September 9, 1957: Civil Rights Act of 1957
  • July 29, 1958: National Aeronautics and Space Act
  • August 23, 1958: Federal Aviation Act of 1958
  • August 28, 1958: EURATOM Cooperation Act of 1958
  • August 28, 1958: Military Construction Appropriation Act
  • September 2, 1958: National Defense Education Act
  • 1958: Defense Reorganization Act of 1958

Composition according to parties

senate

Political party
(Shading shows majority party)
Total
Democrats republican Others Vacant
84th Congress 47 47 2 100 0
85th Congress 50 45 0 100 1
86th Congress 65 35 0 100

House of Representatives

Political party
(Shading shows majority party)
Total
Democrats republican Others Vacant
84th Congress 232 203 0 435 0
85th Congress 234 201 0 435
86th Congress 283 153 1 435

There were also three congressional delegates who were not entitled to vote

Public officials

senate

Leadership of the majority party

Leadership of the minority party

House of Representatives

Leadership of the majority party

Leadership of the minority party

Senate members

The following senators represented their respective states in the 85th Congress:

Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

new York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Members of the House of Representatives

The following congressmen represented the interests of their respective states in the 85th Congress:

Alabama 9 constituencies

Arizona 2 constituencies

Arkansas 6 constituencies.

California 30 constituencies.

Colorado 4 constituencies

Connecticut 5 constituencies. In addition, a member was elected nationwide

Delaware state-wide choice

Florida 8 constituencies

Georgia 10 constituencies

Idaho 2 constituencies

Illinois 25 constituencies

Indiana 11 constituencies

Iowa 8 constituencies

Kansas 6 constituencies.

Kentucky 8 constituencies


Louisiana 8 constituencies

Maine 3 constituencies

Maryland 7 constituencies.

Massachusetts 14 constituencies

Michigan 18 constituencies


Minnesota 9 constituencies

Mississippi 6 constituencies

Missouri 11 constituencies

Montana 2 electoral districts

Nebraska 4 constituencies

Nevada state-wide election

New Hampshire 2 electoral divisions

New Jersey 14 constituencies

New Mexico State-wide election for two MPs

New York 43 constituencies

North Carolina 12 constituencies

North Dakota 2 MPs who were state-elected

Ohio 23 constituencies

Oklahoma 6 constituencies

Oregon 4 constituencies

Pennsylvania 30 constituencies

Rhode Island 2 electoral districts

South Carolina 6 constituencies.

South Dakota 2 constituencies

Tennessee 9 constituencies

Texas 21 constituencies. In addition, a member was elected nationwide

Utah 2 constituencies

Vermont 1 constituency (state-wide)

Virginia 10 constituencies

Washington 6 constituencies. In addition, a member was elected nationwide

West Virginia 6 constituencies

Wisconsin 10 constituencies

Wyoming state-wide elections

Members of the House of Representatives who are not entitled to vote:

Web links

Commons : 85th United States Congress  - Collection of Images, Videos, and Audio Files
  • bioguide.congress.gov (by entering 85 under Year OR Congress: you get a list of the members of the 85th Congress with a link to the official biographies; English)