62nd United States Congress


The 62nd 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, 1911, to March 4, 1913, during the final two years of William H. Taft's presidency.
The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1900 United States census. Additional House seats were assigned to the two new states of New Mexico and Arizona. The size of the House was to be 435 starting with the new Congress coming into session in 1913. The Senate had a Republican majority, and the House flipped into a Democratic majority. This change of control ended the 14-year-long Republican government trifecta that began in the 55th Congress, one of only two trifectas that lasted longer than a decade.

Major events

Major legislation

Constitutional amendments

States admitted and territories created

Leaders

Senate

House of Representatives

Majority (Democratic) leadership

Minority (Republican) leadership

Members

Senate

At this time, 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 2 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1912; Class 3 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1914; and Class 1 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1916.

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 are preceded by their district numbers.

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

Senate

There were 20 changes: 6 deaths, 2 resignations, 1 invalidated election, 6 appointees replaced by electees, 4 seats added from new states, and 1 seat vacant from the previous Congress. Democrats had a 4-seat net gain, and no other parties had a net change.

House of Representatives

House vacancies are only filled by elections. State laws regulate when there will be special elections.
DistrictPreviousReason for changeSubsequentDate of successor's installation
Pennsylvania 2ndVacantRep-elect Joel Cook died in office December 15, 1910. Seat filled in special election held May 23, 1911.William S. Reyburn May 23, 1911
Iowa 9thWalter I. Smith Resigned March 15, 1911, after being appointed judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.William R. Green June 5, 1911
Kansas 2ndAlexander C. Mitchell Died July 7, 1911.Joseph Taggart November 7, 1911
Pennsylvania 14thGeorge W. Kipp Died July 24, 1911.William D.B. Ainey November 7, 1911
Tennessee 10thGeorge W. Gordon Died August 9, 1911.Kenneth McKellar December 4, 1911
New Jersey 1stHenry C. Loudenslager Died August 12, 1911.William J. Browning November 7, 1911
Nebraska 3rdJames P. Latta Died September 11, 1911.Dan V. Stephens November 7, 1911
Kansas 7thEdmond H. Madison Died September 18, 1911.George A. Neeley January 9, 1912
New Mexico Territory at-largeWilliam Henry Andrews New State January 6, 1912.seat eliminated
New Mexico at-largeNew seatNew State January 6, 1912.Harvey B. Fergusson January 8, 1912
New Mexico at-largeNew seatNew State January 6, 1912.George Curry January 8, 1912
Arizona Territory At-largeRalph H. Cameron New State February 14, 1912.seat eliminated
Arizona at-largeNew seatNew State February 14, 1912.Carl Hayden February 19, 1912
Vermont 1stDavid J. Foster Died March 21, 1912Frank L. Greene July 30, 1912
Pennsylvania 1stHenry H. Bingham Died March 22, 1912.William S. Vare May 24, 1912
Iowa 11thElbert H. Hubbard Died June 4, 1912.George Cromwell Scott November 5, 1912
Louisiana 6thRobert Charles Wickliffe Died June 11, 1912.Lewis Lovering Morgan November 5, 1912
New York 26thGeorge R. Malby Died July 5, 1912.Edwin A. Merritt November 5, 1912
Missouri 11thTheron Ephron Catlin Lost contested election August 12, 1912.Patrick F. Gill August 12, 1912
New Jersey 6thWilliam Hughes Resigned September 27, 1912, after being appointed to the Passaic County Court of Common Pleas.Archibald C. Hart November 5, 1912
Ohio 13thCarl C. Anderson Died October 1, 1912.Seat remained vacant until next Congress
New York 21stRichard E. Connell Died October 30, 1912.Seat remained vacant until next Congress
Rhode Island 2ndGeorge H. Utter Died November 3, 1912.Seat remained vacant until next Congress
Pennsylvania 11thCharles C. Bowman Seat declared vacant December 12, 1912.Seat remained vacant until next Congress
Pennsylvania 16thJohn G. McHenry Died December 27, 1912.Seat remained vacant until next Congress
New York 10thWilliam Sulzer Resigned December 31, 1912, after being elected Governor of New York.Seat remained vacant until next Congress
Michigan 2ndWilliam Wedemeyer Died January 2, 1913.Seat remained vacant until next Congress
North Dakota 1stLouis B. Hanna Resigned January 7, 1913, after being elected Governor of North DakotaSeat remained vacant until next Congress
Ohio 3rdJames M. Cox Resigned January 12, 1913, after being elected Governor of OhioSeat remained vacant until next Congress
Arkansas 6thJoseph Taylor Robinson Resigned January 14, 1913, after being elected Governor of ArkansasSamuel M. Taylor January 15, 1913
California 8thSylvester C. Smith Died January 26, 1913.Seat remained vacant until next Congress
South Carolina 1stGeorge S. Legare Died January 31, 1913.Seat remained vacant until next Congress
Texas 1stJ. Morris Sheppard Resigned February 3, 1913, after being elected to the U.S. SenateSeat remained vacant until next Congress

Committees

Senate

House of Representatives

Joint committees

Caucuses

Employees

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

Senate

House of Representatives