80th United States Congress


The 80th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the Federal government of [the United States|United States federal government], composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 1947, to January 3, 1949, during the third and fourth years of 33rd President Harry S. Truman's administration. This congressional term featured the most recent special Senate sessions. The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the 1940 United States census.
The Republicans won the majority in both chambers, marking the first time since the 71st Congress of 1929–1931 that they held full control of Congress, and the first time since the 72nd Congress of 1931–1933 that they held control of either of the two chambers. This also ended a 14-year Democratic overall federal government trifecta period, dating back to the 73rd Congress when Truman's predecessor Franklin D. Roosevelt took office. This ties with the previous 14-year Republican trifecta from 1897 to 1911 as the longest trifectas of Congress, and is the last time that a trifecta was achieved that lasted longer than a decade.
Although the 80th Congress passed a total of 906 public bills, President Truman nicknamed it during his campaign speeches and remarks as the "Do Nothing Congress" and, during the 1948 elections, campaigned as much against it as against his formal opponent, Thomas E. Dewey of New York, the Republican presidential nominee. The 80th Congress did, however, pass several significant bills with bipartisan support, most famously the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, and the Taft–Hartley Act of 1947 on labor relations, but it opposed most of Truman's Fair Deal domestic programs bills.

Major events

Major legislation

Constitutional amendments

Party summary

House of Representatives

From the beginning to the end of this Congress, there was no net change in party power. The Democrats lost one seat, which remained vacant until the next Congress.

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 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, In this Congress, Class 2 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1948; Class 3 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1950; and Class 1 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1952.

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

The names of representatives elected statewide at-large, are preceded by an "At-large", and the names of those elected from districts, whether plural or single member, are preceded by their district numbers.
The congressional district numbers are linked to articles describing the district itself. Since the boundaries of the districts have changed often and substantially, the linked article may only describe the district as it exists today, and not as it was at the time of this Congress.

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 the first session of this Congress

Senate

There were three deaths, two resignations, and one lost mid-term election.

House of Representatives

There were nine deaths and seven resignations.

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