96th United States Congress
96th United States Congress | |
---|---|
95th ← → 97th | |
![]() United States Capitol (2002) | |
January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1981 | |
Senate President | Walter Mondale (D) |
Senate President pro tem | Warren Magnuson (D) except December 5, 1980 Milton Young (R) December 5, 1980 |
House Speaker | Tip O'Neill (D) |
Members | 100 senators 435 members of the House 5 non-voting delegates |
Senate Majority | Democratic |
House Majority | Democratic |
Sessions | |
1st: January 15, 1979 – January 3, 1980 2nd: January 3, 1980 – December 16, 1980 |
The Ninety-sixth 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 January 3, 1979, to January 3, 1981, during the last two years of the administration of U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the 1970 Census. Both chambers had a Democratic majority.
Contents
- 1 Major events
- 2 Major legislation
- 3 Party summary
- 4 Leadership
- 5 Caucuses
- 6 Members
- 6.1 Senate
- 6.1.1 Alabama
- 6.1.2 Alaska
- 6.1.3 Arizona
- 6.1.4 Arkansas
- 6.1.5 California
- 6.1.6 Colorado
- 6.1.7 Connecticut
- 6.1.8 Delaware
- 6.1.9 Florida
- 6.1.10 Georgia
- 6.1.11 Hawaii
- 6.1.12 Idaho
- 6.1.13 Illinois
- 6.1.14 Indiana
- 6.1.15 Iowa
- 6.1.16 Kansas
- 6.1.17 Kentucky
- 6.1.18 Louisiana
- 6.1.19 Maine
- 6.1.20 Maryland
- 6.1.21 Massachusetts
- 6.1.22 Michigan
- 6.1.23 Minnesota
- 6.1.24 Mississippi
- 6.1.25 Missouri
- 6.1.26 Montana
- 6.1.27 Nebraska
- 6.1.28 Nevada
- 6.1.29 New Hampshire
- 6.1.30 New Jersey
- 6.1.31 New Mexico
- 6.1.32 New York
- 6.1.33 North Carolina
- 6.1.34 North Dakota
- 6.1.35 Ohio
- 6.1.36 Oklahoma
- 6.1.37 Oregon
- 6.1.38 Pennsylvania
- 6.1.39 Rhode Island
- 6.1.40 South Carolina
- 6.1.41 South Dakota
- 6.1.42 Tennessee
- 6.1.43 Texas
- 6.1.44 Utah
- 6.1.45 Vermont
- 6.1.46 Virginia
- 6.1.47 Washington
- 6.1.48 West Virginia
- 6.1.49 Wisconsin
- 6.1.50 Wyoming
- 6.2 House of Representatives
- 6.2.1 Alabama
- 6.2.2 Alaska
- 6.2.3 Arizona
- 6.2.4 Arkansas
- 6.2.5 California
- 6.2.6 Colorado
- 6.2.7 Connecticut
- 6.2.8 Delaware
- 6.2.9 Florida
- 6.2.10 Georgia
- 6.2.11 Hawaii
- 6.2.12 Idaho
- 6.2.13 Illinois
- 6.2.14 Indiana
- 6.2.15 Iowa
- 6.2.16 Kansas
- 6.2.17 Kentucky
- 6.2.18 Louisiana
- 6.2.19 Maine
- 6.2.20 Maryland
- 6.2.21 Massachusetts
- 6.2.22 Michigan
- 6.2.23 Minnesota
- 6.2.24 Mississippi
- 6.2.25 Missouri
- 6.2.26 Montana
- 6.2.27 Nebraska
- 6.2.28 Nevada
- 6.2.29 New Hampshire
- 6.2.30 New Jersey
- 6.2.31 New Mexico
- 6.2.32 New York
- 6.2.33 North Carolina
- 6.2.34 North Dakota
- 6.2.35 Ohio
- 6.2.36 Oklahoma
- 6.2.37 Oregon
- 6.2.38 Pennsylvania
- 6.2.39 Rhode Island
- 6.2.40 South Carolina
- 6.2.41 South Dakota
- 6.2.42 Tennessee
- 6.2.43 Texas
- 6.2.44 Utah
- 6.2.45 Vermont
- 6.2.46 Virginia
- 6.2.47 Washington
- 6.2.48 West Virginia
- 6.2.49 Wisconsin
- 6.2.50 Wyoming
- 6.2.51 Non-voting members
- 6.1 Senate
- 7 Changes in Membership
- 8 Committees
- 9 Employees and legislative agency directors
- 10 See also
- 11 Notes
- 12 References
- 13 External links
Major events[edit]
- March 28, 1979: Partial nuclear meltdown at Three Mile Island
- July 11, 1979: Skylab began its return to earth
- November 4, 1979: Iran hostage crisis began
- 1979 energy crisis
- February 2, 1980: Abscam became public
- May 18, 1980: Mount St. Helens erupted
- 1980 United States heat wave
- November 4, 1980: United States elections: Reagan/Bush defeated Carter/Mondale. Republicans gain control of the Senate; the first time Republicans gain control of either chamber since 1954.
Major legislation[edit]
- September 9, 1979: Panama Canal Act of 1979, Pub.L. 96–70, 93 Stat. 452
- April 10, 1979: Taiwan Relations Act, Pub.L. 96–8
- October 17, 1979: Department of Education Organization Act, Pub.L. 96–88, 93 Stat. 668
- March 17, 1980: Refugee Act, Pub.L. 96–212, 94 Stat. 102
- September 19, 1980: Regulatory Flexibility Act, Pub.L. 96–354, 94 Stat. 1164
- September 29, 1980: Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1980, Pub.L. 96–366, 94 Stat. 1322
- October 14, 1980: Staggers Rail Act of 1980, Pub.L. 96–448, 94 Stat. 1895
- October 15, 1980: Classified Information Procedures Act, Pub.L. 96–456, 94 Stat. 2025
- December 2, 1980: Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, Pub.L. 96–487, 94 Stat. 2371
- December 11, 1980: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund), Pub.L. 96–510, 94 Stat. 2767
- December 11, 1980: Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, Pub.L. 96–511, 94 Stat. 2812
- December 12, 1980: Defense Officer Personnel Management Act, Pub.L. 96–513
- December 12, 1980: Bayh–Dole Act, Pub.L. 96–517, 94 Stat. 3018
- December 22, 1980: Nuclear Safety, Research, Demonstration, and Development Act of 1980, Pub.L. 96–567, 94 Stat. 3329
Party summary[edit]
Senate[edit]

Party (shading shows control) |
Total | Vacant | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic (D) |
Independent (I) | Republican (R) |
|||
End of previous congress | 58 | 1 | 41 | 100 | 0 |
Begin | 58 | 1 | 41 | 100 | 0 |
End | 55 | 44 | |||
Final voting share | 55.0% | 1.0% | 44.0% | ||
Beginning of next congress | 46 | 1 | 53 | 100 | 0 |
House of Representatives[edit]
Party (shading shows control) |
Total | Vacant | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic (D) |
Republican (R) | |||
End of previous congress | 275 | 141 | 416 | 19 |
Begin | 276 | 157 | 433 | 2 |
End | 272 | 159 | 431 | 4 |
Final voting share | 63.1% | 36.9% | ||
Beginning of next congress | 243 | 192 | 435 | 0 |
Leadership[edit]
Senate[edit]
- President of the Senate: Walter Mondale (D)
- President pro tempore: Warren Magnuson (D)
- Milton Young (R), for just for one day: December 5, 1980
Majority (Democratic) leadership[edit]
- Majority Leader: Robert Byrd
- Majority Whip: Alan Cranston
- Caucus Secretary: Daniel Inouye
- Campaign Committee Chairman: Wendell H. Ford
Minority (Republican) leadership[edit]
- Minority Leader: Howard Baker
- Minority Whip: Ted Stevens
- Republican Conference Chairman: Bob Packwood
- Republican Conference Secretary: Jake Garn
- National Senatorial Committee Chair: H. John Heinz III
- Policy Committee Chairman: John Tower
House of Representatives[edit]
- Speaker: Tip O'Neill (D)
Majority (Democratic) leadership[edit]
- Majority Leader: Jim Wright
- Majority Whip: John Brademas
- Chief Deputy Majority Whip: Dan Rostenkowski
- Democratic Caucus Chairman: Tom Foley
- Caucus Secretary: Shirley Chisholm
- Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman: James C. Corman
Minority (Republican) leadership[edit]
- Minority Leader: John Jacob Rhodes
- Minority Whip: Robert H. Michel
- Conference Chair: Samuel L. Devine
- Conference Vice-Chair: Jack Edwards
- Conference Secretary: Clair Burgener
- Policy Committee Chairman: Bud Shuster
- Campaign Committee Chairman: Guy Vander Jagt
Caucuses[edit]
- Congressional Black Caucus
- Congressional Hispanic Caucus
- Congressional Travel & Tourism Caucus
- Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues
- House Democratic Caucus
- Senate Democratic Caucus
Members[edit]
This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed in order of seniority, and Representatives are listed by district.
Senate[edit]
Senators are popularly elected statewide every two years, with one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress, In this Congress, Class 3 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1980; Class 1 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1982; and Class 2 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1984.
House of Representatives[edit]
The names of members of the House of Representatives are preceded by their district numbers.
Changes in Membership[edit]
The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.
Senate[edit]
- replacements: 4
- Democratic: 3 seat net loss
- Republican: 3 seat net gain
- deaths:
- resignations: 4
- vacancy:
- Total seats with changes: 4
State (class) |
Vacator | Reason for change | Successor | Date of successor's formal installation[a] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Maine (Class 1) |
Edmund Muskie (D) |
Resigned May 7, 1980 to become United States Secretary of State. Successor appointed to finish the term. |
George J. Mitchell (D) |
May 19, 1980 |
New Hampshire (Class 3) |
John A. Durkin (D) |
Resigned December 29, 1980 to give successor priority in seniority. Successor appointed to finish the term. |
Warren Rudman (R) |
December 29, 1980 |
Florida (Class 3) |
Richard Stone (D) |
Resigned December 30, 1980 to give successor priority in seniority. Successor appointed to finish the term. |
Paula Hawkins (R) |
January 1, 1981 |
Alabama (Class 3) |
Donald Stewart (D) |
Resigned January 2, 1981 to give successor priority in seniority. Successor appointed to finish the term. |
Jeremiah Denton (R) |
January 2, 1981 |
House of Representatives[edit]
- replacements: 7
- Democratic: 0 seat net loss
- Republican: 0 seat net gain
- deaths: 1
- resignations: 4
- expulsion: 1
- contested election:
- Total seats with changes: 10
District | Vacator | Reason for change | Successor | Date of successor's formal installation[a] |
---|---|---|---|---|
California 11th | Vacant | Rep. Leo Ryan died during previous congress | William Royer (R) | April 3, 1979 |
Wisconsin 6th | Vacant | Rep. William A. Steiger died during previous congress | Tom Petri (R) | April 3, 1979 |
Illinois 10th | Abner J. Mikva (D) | Resigned September 26, 1979, after being appointed judge of U.S. Court of Appeals | John Porter (R) | January 22, 1980 |
Pennsylvania 11th | Daniel J. Flood (D) | Resigned January 31, 1980 | Ray Musto (D) | April 9, 1980 |
Louisiana 3rd | David Treen (R) | Resigned March 10, 1980, after being elected Governor of Louisiana | Billy Tauzin (D) | May 22, 1980 |
West Virginia 3rd | John M. Slack, Jr. (D) | Died March 17, 1980 | John G. Hutchinson (D) | June 30, 1980 |
Michigan 13th | Charles Diggs (D) | Resigned June 3, 1980 | George W. Crockett, Jr. (D) | November 4, 1980 |
New Mexico 2nd | Harold L. Runnels (D) | Died August 5, 1980 | Vacant | Not filled this term |
Pennsylvania 1st | Michael Myers (D) | Expelled October 2, 1980 | ||
South Carolina 6th | John Jenrette (D) | Resigned December 10, 1980 | ||
New Jersey 4th | Frank Thompson (D) | Resigned December 29, 1980, after being censured by the House of Representatives |
Committees[edit]
Lists of committees and their party leaders, for members (House and Senate) of the committees and their assignments, go into the Official Congressional Directory at the bottom of the article and click on the link (2 links), in the directory after the pages of terms of service, you will see the committees of the Senate, House (Standing with Subcommittees, Select and Special) and Joint and after the committee pages, you will see the House/Senate committee assignments in the directory, on the committees section of the House and Senate in the Official Congressional Directory, the committee's members on the first row on the left side shows the chairman of the committee and on the right side shows the ranking member of the committee.
Senate[edit]
- Aging (Special) (Chair: Lawton Chiles)
- Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry (Chair: Herman Talmadge)
- Appropriations (Chair: Warren Magnuson)
- Agriculture and Related Agencies
- Defense
- District of Columbia
- Foreign Operations
- HUD-Independent Agencies
- Interior
- Labor-Health, Education and Welfare
- Legislative
- Military Construction
- Energy and Water Development
- State, Justice, Commerce and Judiciary
- Transportation
- Treasury, Postal Service and General Government
- Armed Services (Chair: John C. Stennis)
- Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs (Chair: William Proxmire)
- Budget (Chair: Edmund Muskie, then Ernest Hollings)
- Commerce, Science and Transportation (Chair: Howard Cannon)
- Energy and Natural Resources (Chair: Henry M. Jackson)
- Environment and Public Works (Chair: Jennings Randolph)
- Ethics (Select) (Chair: Adlai Stevenson III, then Howell Heflin)
- Finance (Chair: Russell B. Long)
- Health
- International Trade
- Taxation and Debt Management Generally
- Social Security
- Energy and Foundations
- Private Pension Plans and Employee Fringe Benefits
- Tourism and Sugar
- Public Assistance
- Oversight of the Internal Revenue Service
- Unemployment and Related Programs
- Revenue Sharing, Ingovernmental Revenue Impact and Economic Problems
- Foreign Relations (Chair: Frank Church)
- Governmental Affairs (Chair: Abraham A. Ribicoff)
- Indian Affairs (Select) (Chair: John Melcher)
- Judiciary (Chair: Ted Kennedy)
- Intelligence (Select) (Chair: Birch Bayh)
- Labor and Human Resources (Chair: Harrison A. Williams)
- Nutrition and Human Needs (Select)
- Rules and Administration (Chair: Claiborne Pell)
- Small Business (Select) (Chair: Gaylord Nelson)
- Veterans' Affairs (Chair: Alan Cranston)
- Whole
House of Representatives[edit]
- Aging (Select) (Chair: Claude Pepper)
- Agriculture (Chair: Tom Foley)
- Appropriations (Chair: Jamie L. Whitten)
- Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies
- Defense
- District of Columbia
- Energy and Water Development
- Foreign Operations
- HUD-Independent Agencies
- Interior
- Labor-Health, Education and Welfare
- Legislative
- Military Construction
- State, Justice, Commerce and Judiciary
- Transportation
- Treasury, Postal Service and General Government
- Armed Services (ChaiR: Charles Melvin Price)
- Assassinations (Select)
- Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs (Chair: Henry S. Reuss)
- The City
- Housing and Community and Development
- Economic Stabilization
- Financial Institutions Supervision, Regulation and Insurance
- International Development Institutions and Finance
- General Oversight and Renegotiation
- Consumer Affairs
- Domestic Monetary Policy
- Historic Preservation and Coinage
- International Trade, Investment and Monetary Policy
- Budget (Chair: Robert Giaimo)
- Committees (Select)
- Congressional Operations (Select)
- Crime (Select)
- District of Columbia (Chair: Ron Dellums)
- Education and Labor (Chair: Carl D. Perkins)
- Ethics (Select)
- Foreign Affairs (Chair: Clement J. Zablocki)
- Government Operations (Chair: Jack Brooks)
- House Administration (Chair: Frank Thompson, then Lucien N. Nedzi)
- House Beauty Shop (Select)
- Intelligence (Select) (Chair: Edward Boland)
- Insular Affairs (Chair: Mo Udall)
- Interstate and Foreign Commerce (Chair: Harley Orrin Staggers)
- Judiciary (Chair: Peter W. Rodino)
- Merchant Marine and Fisheries (Chair: John M. Murphy, then Thomas W. L. Ashley)
- Modernization of House Gallery Facilities (Special)
- Narcotics Abuse and Control (Select)
- Outer Continental Shelf (Ad Hoc/Select)
- Post Office and Civil Service
- Public Works and Transportation (Chair: Harold T. Johnson)
- Rules (Chair: Richard Walker Bolling)
- Science and Technology (Chair: Don Fuqua)
- Small Business (Chair: Neal Edward Smith)
- SBA and SBIC Authority and General Small Business
- General Oversight and Minority Enterprise
- Impact of Energy Programs, Environment, Safety Requirements and Government Research on Small Business
- Access to Equity Capital and Business Opportunities
- Capital Investment and Business Opportunities
- Special Small Business Problems
- Standards of Official Conduct (Chair: Charles Edward Bennett)
- Veterans' Affairs (Chair: Ray Roberts)
- Ways and Means (Chair: Al Ullman)
- Whole
Joint committees[edit]
Employees and legislative agency directors[edit]
Legislative branch agency directors[edit]
- Architect of the Capitol: George M. White
- Attending Physician of the United States Congress: Freeman H. Cary
- Comptroller General of the United States: Elmer B. Staats
- Director of the Congressional Budget Office: Alice M. Rivlin
- Librarian of Congress: Daniel J. Boorstin
- Public Printer of the United States: John J. Boyle (until 1980)
Senate[edit]
- Chaplain: Edward L.R. Elson
- Historian: Richard A. Baker
- Parliamentarian: Robert Dove
- Secretary: J. Stanley Kimmitt
- Sergeant at Arms: Frank Hoffmann
- Secretary for the Majority: Howard O. Greene, Jr.
- Secretary for the Minority: Walter J. Stewart
House of Representatives[edit]
- Chaplain: James D. Ford
- Clerk: Edmund L. Henshaw, Jr.
- Doorkeeper: James T. Malloy
- Parliamentarian: William Holmes Brown
- Reading Clerks: Bob Berry (R), N/A (D)
- Postmaster: Robert V. Rota
- Sergeant at Arms: Benjamin J. Guthrie
See also[edit]
- United States elections, 1978 (elections leading to this Congress)
- United States elections, 1980 (elections during this Congress, leading to the next Congress)
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
External links[edit]
- Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
- U.S. House of Representatives: Congressional History
- U.S. Senate: Statistics and Lists
- "Videos of House of Representatives Sessions for the 96th Congress from www.C-SPAN.org".
- "Videos of Committees from the House and Senate for the 96th Congress from www.C-SPAN.org".
- House of Representatives Session Calendar for the 96th Congress (PDF).
- Congressional Pictorial Directory for the 96th Congress.
- Congressional Pictorial Directory for the 96th Congress (Revised).
- Official Congressional Directory for the 96th Congress, 1st Session.