73rd United States Congress

73rd United States Congress
United States Federal Government · Public domain · source
Congress	73rd
Type	Bicameral
Session year	1933
House seats	435
Senate seats	96
House majORITY	Democratic
Senate majORITY	Democratic

73rd United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1933, to January 3, 1935, during the first term of Franklin D. Roosevelt as President of the United States, with Adolf Hitler rising to power in Germany, and Benito Mussolini leading Fascist Italy. The New Deal policies of Roosevelt were implemented during this congress, with the help of Harry Hopkins, Frances Perkins, and Henry A. Wallace. The congress also saw the establishment of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps, with the support of Herbert Hoover's former Secretary of the Treasury, Ogden L. Mills.

● Major Events

The 73rd Congress was marked by significant events, including the inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt as President of the United States, the establishment of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the passage of the Glass-Steagall Act, which was sponsored by Carter Glass and Henry B. Steagall. The congress also saw the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), with the help of David E. Lilienthal and Harold L. Ickes. Additionally, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 was passed, which established the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), with Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. as its first chairman. The National Industrial Recovery Act was also passed, which established the National Recovery Administration (NRA), with Hugh S. Johnson as its head.

● Party Summary

The Democratic Party held a majority in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, with John Nance Garner as the Vice President of the United States and Henry A. Rainey as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. The Republican Party was the minority party, with Charles L. McNary as the Senate Minority Leader and Bertrand H. Snell as the House Minority Leader. The Progressive Party and the Farmer–Labor Party also had representation in the congress, with Robert M. La Follette Jr. and Ernest Lundeen as notable members.

● Sessions

The 73rd Congress had two sessions, the first of which began on March 4, 1933, and ended on June 15, 1933, and the second of which began on January 3, 1934, and ended on January 3, 1935. During these sessions, the congress passed several significant pieces of legislation, including the Agricultural Adjustment Act, the National Industrial Recovery Act, and the Federal Emergency Relief Administration act, with the support of George N. Peek and Milo Perkins. The congress also held hearings on the Bonus Army and the Great Depression, with Walter W. Waters and Jacob Coxey as notable witnesses.

● Major Legislation

The 73rd Congress passed several major pieces of legislation, including the Glass-Steagall Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the National Industrial Recovery Act. The congress also passed the Agricultural Adjustment Act, which established the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA), with George N. Peek as its head. Additionally, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration act was passed, which provided funding for relief programs, with the help of Harry Hopkins and Aubrey Williams. The Civilian Conservation Corps act was also passed, which established the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), with Robert Fechner as its director.

● Membership

The 73rd Congress had a total of 435 members in the United States House of Representatives and 96 members in the United States Senate. Notable members of the congress included Franklin D. Roosevelt's Cabinet members, such as Cordell Hull, Henry A. Wallace, and Harold L. Ickes. The congress also included notable members such as George W. Norris, Robert A. Taft, and Hamilton Fish III. The Democratic Party had a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, with John Nance Garner as the Vice President of the United States and Henry A. Rainey as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

● Leadership

The leadership of the 73rd Congress included John Nance Garner as the Vice President of the United States and Henry A. Rainey as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. The Senate Majority Leader was Joseph T. Robinson, and the House Majority Leader was Henry A. Rainey. The Senate Minority Leader was Charles L. McNary, and the House Minority Leader was Bertrand H. Snell. The congress also had several notable committee chairmen, including Carter Glass and Henry B. Steagall, who chaired the Senate Banking Committee and the House Banking Committee, respectively. The Federal Reserve System, led by Marriner S. Eccles, also played a crucial role in shaping the economic policies of the congress, with the support of Winfield W. Riefler and J. Herbert Furth.