85th United States Congress
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
- 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
- Majority Leader: Lyndon B. Johnson (D)
- Majority swip: Mike Mansfield (D)
Leadership of the minority party
- Minority Leader: William F. Knowland (R)
- Minority whip: Everett Dirksen (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 85th Congress:
Members of the House of Representatives
The following congressmen represented the interests of their respective states in the 85th Congress:
Members of the House of Representatives who are not entitled to vote:
Web links
- 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)