The Seventy-fifth 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, DC from January 3, 1937 to January 3, 1939, during the first two years of the second administration of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. (Because of the 20th amendment, starting in 1937 the new Presidential term began 17 days after that of the new Congress). The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the Fifteenth United States Census, conducted in 1930. Both chambers had a Democratic supermajority.
January 20, 1937: Second inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt as President and John Nance Garner as Vice President
February 5, 1937: President Franklin Roosevelt's court-packing plan proposed
March 26, 1937: William Henry Hastie becomes the first African-American appointed to a federal judgeship.
April 12, 1937: National Labor Relations Board v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation: The Supreme Court of the United States ruled the National Labor Relations Act constitutional.
July 22, 1937: Senate rejects the court-packing plan
October 5, 1937: Roosevelt delivers the Quarantine Speech
May 1, 1937: Neutrality Acts of 1937
June 3, 1937: Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act, ch. 296, 50 Stat. 246
August 2, 1937: Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 50 Stat. 553
August 5, 1937: National Cancer Institute Act, Pub.L. 75–244, ch. 565, 50 Stat. 559
August 17, 1937: Miller-Tydings Act, ch. 690, title VIII, 50 Stat. 693
March 21, 1938: Wheeler–Lea Act, ch. 49, 52 Stat. 111
May 24, 1938: La Follette-Bulwinkle Act, ch. 267, 52 Stat. 439
June 8, 1938: Foreign Agents Registration Act, ch. 327, 52 Stat. 631
June 21, 1938: Natural Gas Act, ch. 556, 52 Stat. 821
June 25, 1938: Civil Aeronautics Act, ch. 601, 52 Stat. 973
June 25, 1938: Fair Labor Standards Act, ch. 676, 52 Stat. 1060
June 25, 1938: Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, ch. 675, 52 Stat. 1040
June 25, 1938: Wagner-O'Day Act, ch. 697, 52 Stat. 1196
Democratic (D): 334 (majority)
Republican (R): 88
Wisconsin Progressive (P): 7
Progressive (P): 1
Farmer-Labor (FL): 5
TOTAL members: 435
President: John N. Garner (D)
President pro tempore: Key Pittman (D)
Majority Leader: Joseph Taylor Robinson (D), until July 14, 1937
Alben W. Barkley (D), from July 14, 1937
Majority Whip: J. Hamilton Lewis (D)
Minority Leader: Charles McNary (R)
Democratic Caucus Secretary: Joshua B. Lee (D)
Republican Conference Secretary: Frederick Hale (R)
Speaker: William B. Bankhead (D)
Majority Leader: Sam Rayburn (D)
Minority Leader: Bertrand Snell (R)
Democratic Whip: Patrick J. Boland
Republican Whip: Harry Lane Englebright
Democratic Caucus Chairman: Robert L. Doughton
Republican Conference Chairman: Roy O. Woodruff
Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman: Patrick H. Drewry
Senators are popularly elected statewide every two years, with one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election.
The names of members of the House of Representatives are preceded by their district numbers.
The count below reflects changes from the beginning of this Congress.
Lists of committees and their party leaders.
Architect of the Capitol: David LynnAssistant Architect: Horace D. Rouzer
Attending Physician of the United States Congress: George Calver
Librarian of Congress: Herbert Putnam
Public Printer of the United States: Augustus E. Giegengack
Chaplain: Reverend ZeBarney Thorne Phillips
Parliamentarian: Charles L. Watkins
Secretary: Edwin Alexander HalseyChief Clerk: John C. Crockett
Librarian: Ruskin McArdle
Sergeant at Arms: Chesley W. JurneyPostmaster: Jack W. Gates
Chaplain: James Shera Montgomery (Methodist)
Clerk: South TrimbleJournal clerk: Louis Sirkey
Reading Clerks: A.E. Chaffee, Patrick J. Haltigan
Librarian: W. Perry Miller
Doorkeeper: Joseph J. Sinnott
Parliamentarian: Lewis Deschler
Postmaster: Finis E. Scott
Sergeant at Arms: Kenneth Romney
Postmaster: Finis E. Scott
