105th United States Congress

105th United States Congress
United_States_Capitol_-_west_front.jpg: Architect of the Capitol derivative work · Public domain · source
Number	105th
Start	January 3, 1997
End	January 3, 1999
Vice president	Al Gore
President pro tempore	Strom Thurmond
Speaker	Newt Gingrich
Senate majority	Republican Party
House majority	Republican Party

105th United States Congress

The 105th United States Congress convened from January 3, 1997, to January 3, 1999, during the second term of Bill Clinton and the vice presidency of Al Gore. This Congress featured legislative battles involving budget negotiations with Gingrich, interaction with the Republican Party leadership including Newt Gingrich and Bob Livingston, oversight related to investigations implicating figures such as Monica Lewinsky and Kenneth Starr, and policy initiatives touching on welfare reform, budget reconciliation, and trade matters with World Trade Organization negotiations and NAFTA implementation. Major actors included committee chairs such as Arlen Specter, Sam Brownback, Henry Hyde, and Senate figures like Jesse Helms and Robert Byrd.

Major Events and Legislation

The 105th passed landmark measures including the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, and appropriations acts resolving disputes with the Clinton administration. Debates over the Line Item Veto Act aftermath and passage of the Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act occurred alongside international actions such as Congressional review of World Trade Organization rulings and sanctions tied to Iraq and Cuba. High-profile oversight led by the House Committee on the Judiciary under Henry Hyde and investigations by the Office of the Independent Counsel into Monica Lewinsky spurred impeachment referral activity, while the Senate considered treaties and confirmations including judges nominated by Bill Clinton such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg—and confirmations contested by senators like Orin Hatch and Ted Stevens. Legislative fights involved welfare reauthorization, the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, and responses to crises like the Asian financial crisis with hearings involving figures from the Federal Reserve and International Monetary Fund.

Leadership and Party Composition

Senate leadership included Majority Leader Trent Lott and Minority Leader Tom Daschle, with party whips such as Don Nickles and Harry Reid. In the House, Speaker Newt Gingrich led a Republican majority that worked with Majority Leader Dick Armey and Minority Leader Richard Gephardt. Committee presidencies featured chairs from the Republican caucus such as Arlen Specter on Judiciary oversight panels, while Democratic ranking members included figures like Patrick Leahy and John Conyers. The Senate party composition involved notable members including Strom Thurmond, Robert Byrd, Jesse Helms, Daniel Inouye, and John McCain. The House roster contained representatives such as Nancy Pelosi, Dennis Hastert, Tom DeLay, Maxine Waters, Connie Morella, and Earl Hilliard. Party shifts and special elections affected caucus counts with involvement from state governors like George W. Bush and Jeb Bush in scheduling.

Members by State and Changes in Membership

Membership lists included senators such as John Kerry (Massachusetts), Arlen Specter (Pennsylvania), Barbara Boxer (California), and Mitch McConnell (Kentucky), with turnover from resignations, deaths, and appointments involving state executives like Jim Hunt and Tom Ridge. House delegations featured long-serving members like Dan Rostenkowski (prior era influence), freshman classes including Sue Myrick and Tommy Thompson-era appointees in governorship contexts, and special elections that brought in figures such as Vern Ehlers and Jo Ann Davis. Changes in membership were influenced by gubernatorial appointments, judicial confirmations, and electoral defeats tied to campaigns involving Bob Dole and Ross Perot-era activists. Several seats changed hands reflecting regional shifts in states like California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Ohio with replacements guided by state laws and party committees.

Committees and Congressional Organization

Standing committees in the Senate and House were led by chairs including Strom Thurmond-era committee veterans and Republican chairs such as Bill Young (Appropriations) and Henry Hyde (Judiciary). Key committees—House Committee on Ways and Means, Senate Committee on Finance, House Committee on Appropriations, House Committee on the Judiciary, Senate Armed Services Committee, and House Committee on Commerce—oversaw legislation on taxation, defense, health policy involving Medicare, and telecommunications regulation affecting corporations like AT&T and Microsoft. Select and special committees handled oversight of the Whitewater controversy and investigations by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform successors, while conference committees resolved differences on the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Committee staff included counsels and clerks who worked with lobbyists from organizations such as the AARP and Chamber of Commerce during markup sessions and hearings.

Congressional Sessions and Calendar

The 105th met in two regular sessions with pro forma sessions, recesses for state work, and special sessions to address crises including budget standoffs and foreign policy developments in Kosovo and Balkans discussions. The Senate and House calendars scheduled nomination votes, cloture motions led by figures like Lindsey Graham-era predecessors, and omnibus appropriations votes toward the fiscal year deadlines. Sine die adjournment occurred on January 3, 1999, after interim continuing resolutions and conference reports resolved through votes involving both chambers and presiding officers such as Al Gore in the Senate and Newt Gingrich in the House.

Category:United States Congresses