109th United States Congress

109th United States Congress
Diliff · Public domain · source
Congress	109th
Type	Bicameral
Session year	2005
House seats	435
Senate seats	100
House majORITY	Republican
Senate majORITY	Republican

109th 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, 2005, to January 3, 2007, during the fifth and sixth years of George W. Bush's presidency. The apportionment of seats was based on the 2000 United States Census. The Republican Party maintained control of both the House and the Senate, with Dennis Hastert as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and Bill Frist as the President pro tempore of the United States Senate.

● Major Events

The 109th Congress witnessed several significant events, including the Hurricane Katrina disaster, which led to a massive Federal Emergency Management Agency response, and the War in Afghanistan and Iraq War. The Congress also dealt with the Supreme Court nominations of John Roberts and Samuel Alito, who were both confirmed by the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Additionally, the Congress addressed issues related to Social Security reform, immigration reform, and the USA PATRIOT Act. The Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation played crucial roles in the War on Terror, which was a major focus of the Congress. The National Security Agency was also involved in the War on Terror, and the Congress had to balance national security concerns with civil liberties.

● Party Summary

The party summary of the 109th Congress was as follows: the Republican Party held 231 seats in the United States House of Representatives, while the Democratic Party held 202 seats, with 1 Independent and 1 vacancy. In the United States Senate, the Republicans held 55 seats, the Democrats held 44 seats, and there was 1 Independent. The Libertarian Party and the Green Party of the United States also had a presence in the Congress, although they did not hold any seats. The Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus played important roles in representing the interests of African Americans and Hispanic and Latino Americans.

● Sessions

The 109th Congress convened in two sessions, the first of which began on January 3, 2005, and ended on December 22, 2005. The second session started on January 3, 2006, and concluded on December 9, 2006. During these sessions, the Congress met in the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C., with the House of Representatives meeting in the United States House of Representatives chamber and the Senate meeting in the United States Senate Chamber. The Library of Congress and the Government Publishing Office provided important support services to the Congress. The Congressional Budget Office and the General Accounting Office also played critical roles in the legislative process.

● Leadership

The leadership of the 109th Congress included Dennis Hastert as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Roy Blunt as the House Majority Leader, and Nancy Pelosi as the House Minority Leader. In the United States Senate, Bill Frist served as the President pro tempore of the United States Senate and the Senate Majority Leader, while Harry Reid was the Senate Minority Leader. The Senate Majority Whip was Mitch McConnell, and the Senate Minority Whip was Dick Durbin. The House Majority Whip was Roy Blunt, and the House Minority Whip was Steny Hoyer. The Congressional leadership played a crucial role in shaping the legislative agenda and ensuring the passage of key bills.

● Membership

The membership of the 109th Congress included several notable individuals, such as Ted Kennedy, John McCain, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden. The Congress also had a number of freshman senators, including Ken Salazar and Richard Burr. The Congressional Women's Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus represented the interests of women and Asian Americans in the Congress. The National Rifle Association and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee were among the many lobbying groups that interacted with the Congress. The Brookings Institution and the Heritage Foundation provided important research and analysis to inform the legislative process.

● Major Legislation

The 109th Congress passed several significant pieces of legislation, including the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, the Patriot Act, and the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006. The Congress also addressed issues related to stem cell research, embryonic stem cells, and abortion. The Supreme Court of the United States ultimately ruled on several key cases, including Hamdan v. Rumsfeld and Rumsfeld v. Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights. The Federal Reserve System and the Securities and Exchange Commission played important roles in regulating the financial sector. The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense were also critical in addressing national security concerns. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health addressed important public health issues. The United States Agency for International Development and the World Health Organization worked together to address global health challenges. The European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization were among the many international organizations that interacted with the Congress. The G8 and the G20 also played important roles in shaping the global agenda. The United Nations and the International Monetary Fund provided critical support for international development and economic stability. The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank also played important roles in promoting economic development and reducing poverty. The Congressional-Executive Commission on China and the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission addressed important issues related to United States-China relations. The Organization of American States and the Inter-American Development Bank worked together to promote economic development and cooperation in the Americas. The African Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank also played critical roles in promoting economic development and infrastructure investment in their respective regions.