107th United States Congress

107th United States Congress
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Congress	107th
Type	Bicameral
Session year	2001
House seats	435
Senate seats	100
House majORITY	Republican Party
Senate majORITY	Democratic Party

107th 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, 2001, to January 3, 2003, during the final weeks of the Bill Clinton presidency and the first two years of the George W. Bush presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1990 United States Census and was governed by Public Law 94-171, which also governed the apportionment of seats for the 106th United States Congress and the 108th United States Congress. The Supreme Court of the United States played a significant role in shaping the congressional landscape, particularly with its decision in Bush v. Gore, which affected the 2000 United States presidential election.

● Major Events

The 107th Congress was marked by significant events, including the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, which led to the passage of the USA PATRIOT Act and the launch of the War in Afghanistan. The Enron scandal also came to light during this period, leading to the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Additionally, the Winter Olympics were held in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Super Bowl XXXVI was played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Federal Reserve, led by Alan Greenspan, played a crucial role in responding to the economic downturn, while the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention worked to address the anthrax attacks.

● Party Summary

The party summary for the 107th Congress was as follows: the Democratic Party held a majority in the United States Senate with 50 seats, while the Republican Party held 49 seats, and there was 1 independent senator, Jim Jeffords, who caucused with the Democrats. In the United States House of Representatives, the Republican Party held a majority with 221 seats, while the Democratic Party held 212 seats, and there were 2 independent representatives, Bernie Sanders and Peter DeFazio. The Libertarian Party and the Green Party of the United States also had a presence in the Congress, with Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich being notable members. The National Republican Congressional Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee played important roles in shaping the party's legislative agendas.

● Sessions

The 107th Congress convened for two sessions: the first session convened on January 3, 2001, and adjourned on December 20, 2001, while the second session convened on January 23, 2002, and adjourned on November 22, 2002. During these sessions, the Congress considered several important bills, including the No Child Left Behind Act, which was signed into law by George W. Bush on January 8, 2002, and the Homeland Security Act, which was signed into law on November 25, 2002. The Congressional Budget Office and the Government Accountability Office provided critical analysis and oversight of the legislative process. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency also played key roles in shaping the national security agenda.

● Leadership

The leadership of the 107th Congress included Trent Lott as the President pro tempore of the United States Senate, Dick Cheney as the President of the United States and Vice President of the United States, and Dennis Hastert as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. Other notable leaders included Tom Daschle as the Senate Majority Leader, Don Nickles as the Senate Minority Whip, and Dick Gephardt as the House Minority Leader. The National Security Council and the Joint Chiefs of Staff also played important roles in advising the President and Congress on national security matters. The United States Department of State and the United States Department of Defense were also critical in shaping the country's foreign policy and defense strategies.

● Membership

The membership of the 107th Congress included several notable individuals, such as Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, John McCain, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama. Other notable members included Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Eric Cantor, and Paul Ryan. The Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus also played important roles in representing the interests of minority communities. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the National Rifle Association were among the many interest groups that lobbied Congress on various issues. The Brookings Institution and the Heritage Foundation provided critical research and analysis on policy issues.

● Major Legislation

The 107th Congress passed several major pieces of legislation, including the USA PATRIOT Act, the No Child Left Behind Act, and the Homeland Security Act. Other notable legislation included the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Internal Revenue Code and the Social Security Act were also amended during this period. The Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration were established to improve aviation security, while the Department of Homeland Security was created to coordinate national efforts to prevent and respond to terrorist threats. The United States Agency for International Development and the United States Department of Agriculture also played critical roles in shaping the country's foreign aid and agricultural policies.