63rd United States Congress
The 63rd 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, D.C. from March 4, 1913, to March 4, 1915, during the first two years of Woodrow Wilson's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1910 United States census.
The Democrats had greatly increased their majority in the House, and won control of the Senate, giving them full control of Congress for the first time since the 53rd Congress in 1893. With Woodrow Wilson being sworn in as president on March 4, 1913, this gave the Democrats an overall federal government trifecta - also for the first time since the 53rd Congress.
Major events
- March 4, 1913: Woodrow Wilson became President of the United States.
- March 9, 1914: The Senate adopted a rule forbidding smoking on the floor of the Senate because Senator Ben Tillman, recovering from a stroke, found the smoke irritating.
- July 28, 1914: World War I began in Europe
- August 15, 1914: The Panama Canal was inaugurated
- August 19, 1914: President Woodrow Wilson declared strict U.S. neutrality
- November 1914: House of Representatives elections, 1914">United States House of Representatives">House of Representatives elections, 1914 and United States Senate elections, 1914
- November 16, 1914: Federal Reserve Bank opened
Major legislation
- May 27, 1913: Kern Resolution
- July 9, 1913: Saboth Act
- July 15, 1913: Labor Act">United States House Committee on Labor">Labor Act
- October 3, 1913: Revenue Act of 1913, including Underwood Tariff
- October 22, 1913: Urgent Deficiencies Act
- December 19, 1913: Raker Act
- December 23, 1913: Federal Reserve Act, ch. 6,,, et seq.
- May 8, 1914: Smith–Lever Act, ch. 79,,
- June 24, 1914: Cutter Service Act
- June 30, 1914: Cooperative Funds Act
- July 17, 1914: Agricultural Entry Act
- July 18, 1914: Aviation Service Act
- July 21, 1914: Borland Amendment
- August 13, 1914: Smith–Hayden Act
- August 15, 1914: Sponge Act
- August 18, 1914: Cotton Futures Act of 1914
- August 18, 1914: Foreign Ship Registry Act
- August 22, 1914: Glacier National Park Act of 1914
- September 2, 1914: War Risk Insurance Act
- September 26, 1914: Federal Trade Commission Act, ch. 311, 38 Stat. 717,
- October 2, 1914: River and Harbors Act of 1914
- October 15, 1914: Clayton Antitrust Act, ch. 323, 38 Stat. 730,, et seq.
- October 22, 1914: Emergency Internal Revenue Tax Act
- December 17, 1914: Harrison Narcotics Tax Act
- January 28, 1915: Coast Guard Act
- March 4, 1915: Merchant Marine Act of 1915
- March 4, 1915: River and Harbors Act of 1915
- March 4, 1915: Standard Barrel Act For Fruits, Vegetables, and Dry Commodities
- March 4, 1915: Federal Boiler Inspection Act
- March 4, 1915: Uniform Bill of Lading Act
- March 4, 1915: Occupancy Permits Act
Constitutional amendments
- April 8, 1913: Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, establishing the popular election of United States senators by the people of the states, was ratified by the requisite number of states to become part of the Constitution
Party summary
Senate
House of Representatives
Leadership
Senate leadership
Presiding
- President: Thomas R. Marshall
- President pro tempore: James P. Clarke
- Majority Whip: J. Hamilton Lewis
- Minority Whip: James W. Wadsworth Jr. until March 4; Charles Curtis starting March 4
- Democratic Caucus Chairman: John W. Kern
- Republican Conference Chairman: Jacob Harold Gallinger
- Democratic Conference Secretary|Democratic Caucus Secretary]: Willard Saulsbury Jr.
- Republican Conference Secretary: William Squire Kenyon
House leadership
Presiding
- Speaker: Champ Clark
Majority (Democratic) leadership
- Majority Leader: Oscar Underwood
- Majority Whip: Thomas M. Bell
- Democratic Caucus Chairman: A. Mitchell Palmer
- Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman: Frank Ellsworth Doremus
Minority (Republican) leadership
- Minority Leader: James R. Mann
- Minority Whip: Charles H. Burke
- Republican Conference Chairman: William S. Greene
- Republican Congressional Committee|Republican Campaign Committee Chairman]: Frank P. Woods
Members
Senate
Most senators were elected by the state legislatures every two years, with one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress. A few senators were elected directly by the residents of the state. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election, In this Congress, Class 3 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1914; Class 1 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1916; and Class 2 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1918.Alabama">List of United States senators from Alabama">Alabama
Arizona">List of United States senators from Arizona">Arizona
Arkansas">List of United States senators from Arkansas">Arkansas
California">List of United States senators from California">California
Colorado">List of United States senators from Colorado">Colorado
Connecticut">List of United States senators from Connecticut">Connecticut
Delaware">List of United States senators from Delaware">Delaware
Florida">List of United States senators from Florida">Florida
Georgia">List of United States senators from Georgia">Georgia
Idaho">List of United States senators from Idaho">Idaho
Illinois">List of United States senators from Illinois">Illinois
Indiana">List of United States senators from Indiana">Indiana
Iowa">List of United States senators from Iowa">Iowa
Kansas">List of United States senators from Kansas">Kansas
Kentucky">List of United States senators from Kentucky">Kentucky
Louisiana">List of United States senators from Louisiana">Louisiana
Maine">List of United States senators from Maine">Maine
Maryland">List of United States senators from Maryland">Maryland
Massachusetts">List of United States senators from Massachusetts">Massachusetts
Michigan">List of United States senators from Michigan">Michigan
Minnesota">List of United States senators from Minnesota">Minnesota
Mississippi">List of United States senators from Mississippi">Mississippi
Missouri">List of United States senators from Missouri">Missouri
Montana">List of United States senators from Montana">Montana
Nebraska">List of United States senators from Nebraska">Nebraska
Nevada">List of United States senators from Nevada">Nevada
New Hampshire">List of United States senators from New Hampshire">New Hampshire
New Jersey">List of United States senators from New Jersey">New Jersey
New Mexico">List of United States senators from New Mexico">New Mexico
New York">List of United States senators from New York">New York
North Carolina">List of United States senators from North Carolina">North Carolina
North Dakota">List of United States senators from North Dakota">North Dakota
Ohio">List of United States senators from Ohio">Ohio
Oklahoma">List of United States senators from Oklahoma">Oklahoma
Oregon">List of United States senators from Oregon">Oregon
Pennsylvania">List of United States senators from Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania
Rhode Island">List of United States senators from Rhode Island">Rhode Island
South Carolina">List of United States senators from South Carolina">South Carolina
South Dakota">List of United States senators from South Dakota">South Dakota
Tennessee">List of United States senators from Tennessee">Tennessee
Texas">List of United States senators from Texas">Texas
Utah">List of United States senators from Utah">Utah
Vermont">List of United States senators from Vermont">Vermont
Virginia">List of United States senators from Virginia">Virginia
Washington">List of United States senators from Washington">Washington
West Virginia">List of United States senators from West Virginia">West Virginia
Wisconsin">List of United States senators from Wisconsin">Wisconsin
Wyoming">List of United States senators from Wyoming">Wyoming
House of Representatives
Alabama">List of United States representatives from Alabama">Alabama
Arizona">List of United States representatives from Arizona">Arizona
Arkansas">List of United States representatives from Arkansas">Arkansas
California">List of United States representatives from California">California
Colorado">List of United States representatives from Colorado">Colorado
Connecticut">List of United States representatives from Connecticut">Connecticut
Delaware">List of United States representatives from Delaware">Delaware
Florida">List of United States representatives from Florida">Florida
Georgia">List of United States representatives from Georgia">Georgia
Idaho">List of United States representatives from Idaho">Idaho
Illinois">List of United States representatives from Illinois">Illinois
Indiana">List of United States representatives from Indiana">Indiana
Iowa">List of United States representatives from Iowa">Iowa
Kansas">List of United States representatives from Kansas">Kansas
Kentucky">List of United States representatives from Kentucky">Kentucky
Louisiana">List of United States representatives from Louisiana">Louisiana
Maine">List of United States representatives from Maine">Maine
Maryland">List of United States representatives from Maryland">Maryland
Massachusetts">List of United States representatives from Massachusetts">Massachusetts
Michigan">List of United States representatives from Michigan">Michigan
Minnesota">List of United States representatives from Minnesota">Minnesota
Mississippi">List of United States representatives from Mississippi">Mississippi
Missouri">List of United States representatives from Missouri">Missouri
Montana">List of United States representatives from Montana">Montana
Nebraska">List of United States representatives from Nebraska">Nebraska
Nevada">List of United States representatives from Nevada">Nevada
New Hampshire">List of United States representatives from New Hampshire">New Hampshire
New Jersey">List of United States representatives from New Jersey">New Jersey
New Mexico">List of United States representatives from New Mexico">New Mexico
New York">List of United States representatives from New York">New York
North Carolina">List of United States representatives from North Carolina">North Carolina
North Dakota">List of United States representatives from North Dakota">North Dakota
Ohio">List of United States representatives from Ohio">Ohio
Oklahoma">List of United States representatives from Oklahoma">Oklahoma
Oregon">List of United States representatives from Oregon">Oregon
Pennsylvania">List of United States representatives from Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania
Rhode Island">List of United States representatives from Rhode Island">Rhode Island
South Carolina">List of United States representatives from South Carolina">South Carolina
South Dakota">List of United States representatives from South Dakota">South Dakota
Tennessee">List of United States representatives from Tennessee">Tennessee
Texas">List of United States representatives from Texas">Texas
Utah">List of United States representatives from Utah">Utah
Vermont">List of United States representatives from Vermont">Vermont
Virginia">List of United States representatives from Virginia">Virginia
Washington">List of United States representatives from Washington">Washington
West Virginia">List of United States representatives from West Virginia">West Virginia
Wisconsin">List of United States representatives from Wisconsin">Wisconsin
Wyoming">List of United States representatives from Wyoming">Wyoming
Non-voting members
Changes in membership
The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.Senate
- Replacements: 3
- * Democratic: 2 seat net gain
- * Republican: 2 seat net loss
- Deaths: 3
- Resignations: 3
- Vacancies: 3
- Total seats with changes: 9
| State | Senator | Reason for vacancy | Successor | Date of successor's installation |
| New Hampshire | Vacant | Elected late. | Henry F. Hollis | March 13, 1913 |
| Illinois | Vacant | Due to US Sen.Lorimer (politician)|Lorimer] scandal, general assembly refused to seat elected Senator at beginning of term. Compromise was later reached with Governor of Illinois to seat senator to replace Lorimer after another election was called. | J. Hamilton Lewis | March 26, 1913 |
| Illinois | Vacant | Due to US Sen.Lorimer scandal, general assembly refused to seat elected Senator at beginning of term. Compromise was later reached with Governor of Illinois to seat senator who supported Sen Lorimer. | Lawrence Y. Sherman | March 26, 1913 |
| West Virginia | Vacant | Elected to seat at beginning of term but delayed installation to continue as judge of U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit | Nathan Goff Jr. | April 1, 1913 |
| Alabama | Joseph F. Johnston | Died August 8, 1913. Successor was appointed to finish term. | Francis S. White | May 11, 1914 |
| Maryland | William P. Jackson | Successor was elected. | Blair Lee | January 28, 1914 |
| Georgia | Augustus O. Bacon | Died February 14, 1914. Successor was appointed. | William S. West | March 2, 1914 |
| Kentucky | William O. Bradley | Died May 23, 1914. Successor was appointed and subsequently elected. | Johnson N. Camden Jr. | June 16, 1914 |
| Georgia | William S. West | Successor was elected. | Thomas W. Hardwick | November 4, 1914 |
House of Representatives
- Replacements: 20
- * Democratic: 1 seat gain
- * Republican: 2 seat loss
- * Progressive: 1 seat gain
- Deaths: 11
- Resignations: 19
- Contested elections: 2
- Total seats with changes: 15
Committees
Senate
- Additional Accommodations for the Library of Congress
- Agriculture and Forestry
- Appropriations
- United States Senate [Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate|Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate]
- Banking and Currency
- Canadian Relations
- Census
- Civil Service and Retrenchment
- Claims
- Coast and Insular Survey
- Coast Defenses
- Commerce
- Conservation of National Resources
- Corporations Organized in the District of Columbia
- Cuban Relations
- Disposition of Useless Papers in the Executive Departments
- District of Columbia
- Education and Labor|Education and Labor]
- Engrossed Bills
- Enrolled Bills
- Establish a University in the United States
- Examine the Several Branches in the Civil Service
- Expenditures in the Department of Agriculture
- Expenditures in the Department of Commerce and Labor
- Expenditures in the Interior Department
- Expenditures in the Department of Justice
- United States Senate Committee on Expenditures [in the Navy Department|Expenditures in the Navy Department]
- Expenditures in the Post Office Department
- Expenditures in the Department of State
- Expenditures in the Treasury Department
- Expenditures in the War Department
- Finance
- Fisheries
- United States Senate Committee on the [Five Civilized Tribes of Indians|Five Civilized Tribes of Indians]
- Foreign Relations
- Forest Reservations and the Protection of Game
- Geological Survey
- Immigration
- Indian Affairs
- Indian Depredations
- Industrial Expositions
- Interoceanic Canals
- Interstate Commerce
- Irrigation and Reclamation of Arid Lands
- Judiciary
- Library
- Manufactures
- Military Affairs
- Mines and Mining
- Mississippi River and its Tributaries
- National Banks
- Naval Affairs
- Pacific Islands and Puerto Rico
- Pacific Railroads
- Patents
- Pensions
- Philippines
- Post Office and Post Roads
- Printing
- Private Land Claims
- Privileges and Elections
- Public Buildings and Grounds
- Public Health and National Quarantine
- Public Lands
- Railroads
- Revision of the Laws
- Revolutionary Claims
- Rules
- Standards, Weights and Measures
- Tariff Regulation
- Telepost
- Territories
- Transportation and Sale of Meat Products
- Transportation Routes to the Seaboard
- Trespassers upon Indian Lands
- Whole
- Woman Suffrage
House of Representatives
- Accounts
- Agriculture
- Alcoholic Liquor Traffic
- Appropriations
- Banking and Currency
- Census
- Claims
- Coinage, Weights and Measures
- Disposition of Executive Papers
- District of Columbia
- Education
- Election of the President, Vice President and Representatives in Congress
- Elections No.#1
- Elections No.#2
- Elections No.#3
- Enrolled Bills
- Agriculture Department|Expenditures in the Agriculture Department]
- Commerce Department|Expenditures in the Commerce Department]
- Expenditures in the Interior Department
- Expenditures in the Justice Department
- Expenditures in the Labor Department
- Expenditures in the Navy Department
- Expenditures in the Post Office Department
- Expenditures in the State Department
- Expenditures in the Treasury Department
- Expenditures in the War Department
- Expenditures on Public Buildings
- Foreign Affairs
- Immigration and Naturalization|Immigration and Naturalization]
- Indian Affairs
- Industrial Arts and Expositions
- Insular Affairs
- Interstate and Foreign Commerce
- Invalid Pensions
- Irrigation of Arid Lands
- Judiciary
- Labor
- Library
- Merchant Marine and Fisheries
- Mileage
- Military Affairs
- Mines and Mining
- Naval Affairs
- Patents
- Pensions
- Post Office and Post Roads
- Printing
- Public Buildings and Grounds
- Public Lands
- Railways and Canals
- Reform in the Civil Service
- Revision of Laws
- Rivers and Harbors
- Roads
- Rules
- Standards of Official Conduct
- Territories
- War Claims
- Ways and Means
- Whole (United States House of Representatives)|Whole]
Joint committees
- Armor Plant Costs
- Conditions of Indian Tribes
- Federal Aid in Construction of Post Roads
- Disposition of (Useless) Executive Papers
- The Library
- Interstate Commerce
- Investigate the General Parcel Post
- Printing
- Postage on 2nd Class Mail Matter and Compensation for Transportation of Mail
- Rural Credits
- Second Class Mail Matter and Compensation for Rail Mail Service
Caucuses
- Democratic
- Democratic
Employees
Legislative branch agency">List of federal agencies in the United States#United States Congress">Legislative branch agency directors
- Architect of the Capitol: Elliott Woods
- Librarian of Congress: Herbert Putnam
- Public Printer of the United States: Samuel B. Donnelly, until 1913
- * Cornelius Ford, from 1913
Senate
- Secretary: Charles G. Bennett, until March 13, 1913.
- *James M. Baker, elected March 13, 1913.
- E. Livingston Cornelius, elected December 10, 1912
- *Charles P. Higgins, elected March 13, 1913
- Chaplain: Edward Everett Hale, Unitarian, until March 13, 1913
- * F.J. Prettyman, Methodist, elected March 13, 1913.
House of Representatives
- Clerk: South Trimble
- Sergeant at Arms: Charles F. Riddell, until April 7, 1913
- * Robert B. Gordon, from April 7, 1913
- Doorkeeper: Joseph J. Sinnott
- Postmaster: William M. Dunbar
- Clerk at the Speaker's Table: Bennett C. Clark
- Clerk of the United States House of Representatives|Reading Clerks]: Patrick Joseph Haltigan and H. Martin Williams
- Chaplain: Henry N. Couden, Universalist