The Sixty-third 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 March 4, 1913 to March 4, 1915, during the first two years of Woodrow Wilson's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the Thirteenth Census of the United States in 1910. Both chambers had a Democratic majority.
March 4, 1913: Woodrow Wilson became President of the United States.March 9, 1914: The Senate adopted a rule forbidding smoking on the floor of the Senate because Senator Ben Tillman, recovering from a stroke, found the smoke irritating.July 28, 1914: World War I began in EuropeAugust 15, 1914: The Panama Canal was inauguratedAugust 19, 1914: President Woodrow Wilson declared strict U.S. neutralityNovember 1914: United States House of Representatives elections, 1914 and United States Senate elections, 1914November 16, 1914: Federal Reserve Bank openedMay 27, 1913: Kern ResolutionJuly 9, 1913: Saboth ActJuly 15, 1913: Newlands Labor ActOctober 3, 1913: Revenue Act of 1913 (Federal Income Tax), including Underwood TariffOctober 22, 1913: Urgent Deficiencies ActDecember 19, 1913: Raker ActDecember 23, 1913: Federal Reserve Act, ch. 6, 38 Stat. 251, 12 U.S.C. § 221, et seq.May 8, 1914: Smith-Lever Act, ch. 79, 38 Stat. 372, 7 U.S.C. § 341June 24, 1914: Cutter Service ActJune 30, 1914: Cooperative Funds ActJuly 17, 1914: Agricultural Entry ActJuly 18, 1914: Aviation Service ActJuly 21, 1914: Borland AmendmentAugust 13, 1914: Smith-Hayden ActAugust 15, 1914: Sponge ActAugust 18, 1914: Cotton Futures Act of 1914August 18, 1914: Foreign Ship Registry ActAugust 22, 1914: Glacier National Park Act of 1914September 2, 1914: War Risk Insurance Act (Rayburn Act)September 26, 1914: Federal Trade Commission Act, ch. 311, 38 Stat. 717, 15 U.S.C. § 41October 2, 1914: River and Harbors Act of 1914October 15, 1914: Clayton Antitrust Act, ch. 323, 38 Stat. 730, 15 U.S.C. § 12, et seq.October 22, 1914: Emergency Internal Revenue Tax ActDecember 17, 1914: Harrison Narcotics Tax ActJanuary 28, 1915: Coast Guard ActMarch 4, 1915: Merchant Marine Act of 1915March 4, 1915: River and Harbors Act of 1915March 4, 1915: Standard Barrel Act For Fruits, Vegetables, and Dry CommoditiesMarch 4, 1915: Federal Boiler Inspection ActMarch 4, 1915: Uniform Bill of Lading ActMarch 4, 1915: Occupancy Permits ActApril 8, 1913: 17th Amendment was ratified, creating a popularly elected U.S. Senate instead of the original process of appointment by state legislatures.Democratic (D): 291 (majority)Republican (R): 134Progressive (P): 9Independent (I): 1TOTAL members: 435
President of the Senate: Thomas R. MarshallPresident pro tempore: James P. ClarkeMajority Whip: J. Hamilton Lewis (D)Minority Whip: James Wadsworth, Jr. (R) until March 4; Charles Curtis (R) starting March 4Democratic Caucus Chair : John W. KernRepublican Conference Chairman: Jacob Harold GallingerDemocratic Caucus Secretary: Willard Saulsbury Jr.Republican Conference Secretary: William Squire KenyonSpeaker: Champ Clark (D)Majority Leader: Oscar UnderwoodMajority Whip: Thomas M. BellDemocratic Caucus Chairman: A. Mitchell PalmerDemocratic Campaign Committee Chairman: Frank Ellsworth DoremusMinority Leader: James R. MannMinority Whip: Charles H. BurkeRepublican Conference Chair: William S. GreeneSkip to House of Representatives, belowMost Senators were elected by the state legislatures every two years, with one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress. A few senators were elected directly by the residents of the state. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election. Senior senators are listed first.
The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.
replacements: 3Democratic: 2 seat net gainRepublican: 2 seat net lossdeaths: 3resignations: 3vacancy: 3Total seats with changes: 9replacements: 20Democratic: 1 seat gainRepublican: 2 seat lossProgressive: 1 seat gaindeaths: 11resignations: 19contested elections: 2Total seats with changes: 15Lists of committees and their party leaders.
Additional Accommodations for the Library of Congress (Select)Agriculture and ForestryAppropriationsAudit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the SenateBanking and CurrencyCanadian RelationsCensusCivil Service and RetrenchmentClaimsCoast and Insular SurveyCoast DefensesCommerceConservation of National ResourcesCorporations Organized in the District of ColumbiaCuban RelationsDisposition of Useless Papers in the Executive DepartmentsDistrict of ColumbiaEducation and LaborEngrossed BillsEnrolled BillsEstablish a University in the United States (Select)Examine the Several Branches in the Civil ServiceExpenditures in the Department of AgricultureExpenditures in the Department of CommerceExpenditures in the Interior DepartmentExpenditures in the Department of JusticeExpenditures in the Department of LaborExpenditures in the Navy DepartmentExpenditures in the Post Office DepartmentExpenditures in the Department of StateExpenditures in the Treasury DepartmentExpenditures in the War DepartmentFinanceFisheriesFive Civilized Tribes of IndiansForeign RelationsForest Reservations and the Protection of GameGeological SurveyImmigrationImmigration and NaturalizationIndian AffairsIndustrial ExpositionsInteroceanic CanalsInterstate CommerceIrrigation and ReclamationJudiciaryLibraryManufacturesMilitary AffairsMines and MiningMississippi River and its Tributaries (Select)National BanksNaval AffairsPacific Islands and Puerto RicoPacific RailroadsPatentsPensionsPhilippinesPost Office and Post RoadsPrintingPrivate Land ClaimsPrivileges and ElectionsPublic Buildings and GroundsPublic Health and National QuarantinePublic LandsRailroadsRevision of the LawsRevolutionary ClaimsRulesStandards, Weights and MeasuresTariff Regulation (Select)Telepost (Select)TerritoriesTransportation and Sale of Meat Products (Select)Transportation Routes to the SeaboardTrespassers upon Indian Lands (Select)WholeWoman SuffrageAccountsAgricultureAlcoholic Liquor TrafficAppropriationsBanking and CurrencyCensusClaimsCoinage, Weights and MeasuresDisposition of Executive PapersDistrict of ColumbiaEducationElection of the President, Vice President and Representatives in CongressElectionsEnrolled BillsExpenditures in the Agriculture DepartmentExpenditures in the Commerce DepartmentExpenditures in the Interior DepartmentExpenditures in the Justice DepartmentExpenditures in the Labor DepartmentExpenditures in the Navy DepartmentExpenditures in the Post Office DepartmentExpenditures in the State DepartmentExpenditures in the Treasury DepartmentExpenditures in the War DepartmentExpenditures on Public BuildingsForeign AffairsImmigration and NaturalizationIndian AffairsIndustrial Arts and ExpositionsInsular AffairsInterstate and Foreign CommerceInvalid PensionsIrrigation of Arid LandsLaborMerchant Marine and FisheriesMileageMilitary AffairsMines and MiningNaval AffairsPatentsPensionsPost Office and Post RoadsPublic Buildings and GroundsPublic LandsRailways and CanalsReform in the Civil ServiceRevision of LawsRivers and HarborsRoadsRulesStandards of Official ConductTerritoriesWar ClaimsWays and MeansWholeArmor Plant Costs (Special)Conditions of Indian Tribes (Special)Federal Aid in Construction of Post RoadsDisposition of (Useless) Executive PapersInvestigate the General Parcel PostPostage on 2nd Class Mail Matter and Compensation for Transportation of MailSecond Class Mail Matter and Compensation for Rail Mail ServiceArchitect of the Capitol: Elliott WoodsLibrarian of Congress: Herbert PutnamPublic Printer of the United States: Samuel B. Donnelly (until 1913), Cornelius Ford (starting 1913)Secretary:Charles G. Bennett of New YorkJames M. Baker of South Carolina, elected March 13, 1913.Sergeant at Arms:E. Livingston Cornelius of Maryland, elected December 10, 1912Charles P. Higgins of Indiana, elected March 13, 1913Chaplain: Edward Everett Hale, Unitarian, until March 13, 1913, F.J. Prettyman, Methodist, elected March 13, 1913.Clerk: South Trimble of Kentucky, elected April 7, 1913.Sergeant at Arms: Robert B. Gordon of Ohio, elected April 7, 1913.Doorkeeper: Joseph J. Sinnott of Virginia, elected April 7, 1913.Postmaster: William M. Dunbar of Georgia, elected April 7, 1913.Clerk at the Speaker’s Table: Bennett C. ClarkChaplain: Henry N. Couden, Universalist, elected April 7, 1913. 
