83rd United States Congress


The 83rd United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 1953, until January 3, 1955, during the last two weeks of the Truman administration, with the remainder spanning the first two years of Dwight Eisenhower's presidency. It was composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The apportionment of seats in the House was based on the 1950 [United States census|1950 U.S. census].
The Republicans gained the majority in both chambers, winning back full control of Congress for the first time since the 80th Congress in 1947, and with Dwight Eisenhower being sworn in as president on January 20, 1953, this gave the Republicans an overall federal government trifecta for the first time since the 71st Congress in 1929, and the last time until they briefly did so during the 107th Congress in 2001.

Major events

Major legislation

Party summary

Until the last week of the first session of Congress, Republicans had a 48-47-1 tied-plurality in the Senate which Republican Vice President Richard Nixon broke in the GOP’s favor. At the start of the second session, to account for whenever the Senate became tied 47-47-1 or when the Democrats held the plurality the Republican-turned-Independent, Wayne Morse, caucused with the GOP which gave them a tie-breaking majority, allowing continuity in GOP control of the Senate and the overall trifecta of government. Thus Republican leader William Knowland remained Senate Majority Leader, Democratic leader Lyndon B. Johnson remained Senate Minority Leader, and the GOP remained continuously in control of the Senate committees. Wayne Morse would begin caucusing with Democrats at the start of the next Congress in 1955 to give them Senate control.

House of Representatives

Republican majority in the House becomes a plurality after the end of the last congressional session.

Leadership

Senate

Majority (Republican) leadership

Minority (Democratic) leadership

House of Representatives

Majority (Republican) leadership

Minority (Democratic) leadership

Caucuses

Members

Senate

Senators are popularly elected statewide every six years, with one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress. Within each state, senators are listed in order of seniority. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election, In this Congress, Class 2 meant their term ended with this Congress, facing re-election in 1954; Class 3 meant their term began in the last Congress, facing re-election in 1956; and Class 1 meant their term began in this Congress, facing re-election in 1958.

Florida">List of United States senators from Florida">Florida


Louisiana">List of United States senators from Louisiana">Louisiana


Montana">List of United States senators from Montana">Montana


North Dakota">List of United States senators from North Dakota">North Dakota


Tennessee">List of United States senators from Tennessee">Tennessee


House of Representatives

Florida">List of United States representatives from Florida">Florida


Louisiana">List of United States representatives from Louisiana">Louisiana


Montana">List of United States representatives from Montana">Montana


North Dakota">List of United States representatives from North Dakota">North Dakota


Tennessee">List of United States representatives from Tennessee">Tennessee


Wyoming">List of United States representatives from Wyoming">Wyoming


Changes in membership

The count below reflects changes from the beginning of this Congress.

Committees

Senate

House of Representatives

Joint committees

Employees

Legislative branch agency">List of federal agencies in the United States#United States Congress">Legislative branch agency directors

Senate

House of Representatives