The Eighty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1953 to January 3, 1955, during the first two years of the first administration of U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower.
The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the Seventeenth Census of the United States in 1950. Both chambers had a Republican majority.
Dates of sessions
January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1955
- First session: January 3, 1953 – August 3, 1953
- Second session: January 6, 1954 – December 2, 1954
Previous: 82nd Congress • Next: 84th Congress
Major events
- January 20, 1953: Dwight Eisenhower became President of the United States
- March 11, 1954: U.S. Capitol shooting incident
Major legislation
- 1953-07-03 — Small Business Act, Pub.L. 83-163, ch. 282, 67 Stat. 232
- 1953-08-07 — Refugee Relief Act, Pub.L. 83-203
- 1953-08-07 — Submerged Lands Act, ch. 345, 67 Stat. 462
- 1953-08-14 — Public Law 280, Pub.L. 83-280, 18 U.S.C. § 1162
- 1953 -- Emergency Migration Act of 1953
- 1954-05-13 — Saint Lawrence Seaway Act, ch. 201, 68 Stat. 92
- 1954-08-12 — Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act, ch. 649, title II, §201, 68 Stat. 612
- 1954-08-13 — Multiple Mineral Development Act, ch. 730, 68 Stat. 708
- 1954-08-16 — Internal Revenue Code of 1954, Pub.L. 83-591, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 3
- Federal Unemployment Tax Act, §1(d), 68A Stat. 439
- National Firearms Act, §1(d), 68A Stat. 721
- 1954-08-24 — Communist Control Act of 1954, ch. 886, 68 Stat. 775
- 1954 -- Agricultural Act of 1954
- 1954 -- Atomic Energy Act of 1954
- 1954 -- Water Facilities Act of 1954
Key Votes
Senate
| Legislation | Party | Yea | Nay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formosa Policy | Democrats | 12 | 32 |
| Jan 28, 1955 | Republicans | 1 | 42 |
| (rejected) | 13 | 74 | |
| China Mutual Defense Treaty | Democrats | 9 | 33 |
| Feb 9, 1955 | Republicans | 1 | 27 |
| (rejected) | 10 | 60 | |
| Raising Congressional Salaries | Democrats | 30 | 13 |
| Feb 23, 1955 | Republicans | 32 | 11 |
| (passed) | 62 | 24 |
House of Representatives
| Legislation | Party | Yea | Nay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raising Congressional Salaries | Democrats | 166 | 59 |
| Feb 16, 1955 | Republicans | 117 | 59 |
| (passed) | 283 | 118 | |
| Reciprical Trade Extension | Democrats | 80 | 140 |
| Feb 18, 1955 | Republicans | 119 | 66 |
| (rejected) | 199 | 206 | |
| Reciprical Trade Extension | Democrats | 186 | 35 |
| Feb 18, 1955 | Republicans | 109 | 75 |
| (passed) | 295 | 110 | |
| Taxation | Democrats | 16 | 205 |
| Feb 25, 1955 | Republicans | 189 | 5 |
| (rejected) | 205 | 210 |
Party summary
Senate
48 Republicans, 47 Democrats, 1 Independent
| This section requires expansion. |
House of Representatives
221 Republicans, 213 Democrats, 1 Independent
Total Membership: 435 Representatives, 2 Delegates, 1 Resident Commissioner
Officers
Senate
- President of the Senate (Vice President of the United States):
- Alben W. Barkley (D-Kentucky), until January 20, 1953
- Richard M. Nixon (R-California), beginning January 20, 1953
- President pro tempore: Styles Bridges (R-New Hampshire)
Majority (Republican) leadership
- Majority Leader: Robert Taft (R-Ohio), until July 31, 1953 (died in office)
- William F. Knowland (R-California), beginning August 3, 1953
- Majority Whip: Leverett Saltonstall (R-Massachusetts)
Minority (Democratic) leadership
House of Representatives
- Speaker: Joseph W. Martin, Jr. (R-Massachusetts)
- Majority Leader: Charles A. Halleck (R-Indiana)
- Minority Leader: Sam Rayburn (D-Texas)
- Democratic Whip: John W. McCormack (D-Massachusetts)
- Republican Whip: Leslie C. Arends (R-Illinois)
- Democratic Caucus Chairman: Wilbur D. Mills (D-Arkansas)
- Republican Conference Chairman: Clifford R. Hope (R-Kansas)
Members
Senate
Senators are popularly elected statewide every two years, with one-third beginning new six year terms with each Congress. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election.
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
|
House of Representatives
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
DelawareFlorida
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
VermontVirginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
WyomingAlaska Territory
Hawaii Territory
Puerto Rico
|
Employees
- Architect of the Capitol: Data unknown or missing. (You can help!)
Senate
| This section requires expansion. |
House of Representatives
- Chaplain: Bernard Braskamp
- Clerk: Lyle O. Snader
- Doorkeeper: Tom Kennamer
- Postmaster: Beecher Hess
- Sergeant at Arms: William F. Russell, died July 7, 1953
- Lyle O. Snader, July 8, 1953 – September 15, 1953
- William R. Bonnell, form September 15, 1953
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