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80th Congress (1947–1949)

Congressional Profile

Total Membership:

  • 435 Representatives
  • 2 Delegates
  • 1 Resident Commissioner

Party Divisions:*

  • 188 Democrats
  • 246 Republicans
  • 1 American-Labor

*Party division totals are based on election day results.

  • Election Statistics, 1946 [PDF]

Congress Overview

Republicans won congressional majorities for the first time in 15 years after the 1946 elections. The 80th Congress (1947–1949) quickly sent to the states for ratification a constitutional amendment limiting Presidents to two terms, and it reined in trade unions with the Taft-Hartley Labor-Management Relations Act. But foreign policy dominated this Congress, as it reaffirmed America’s new global position. It authorized economic and military aid to countries threatened by the Soviet Union, passed the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe, unified the armed services, and created the National Security Council and the Central Intelligence Agency.

Historical Highlights

See more Historical Highlights.  

Member Information

  • Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, (1774–2005), Official Annotated Membership Roster by State with Vacancy and Special Election Information for the 80th Congress [PDF]
  • Learn more about the House of Representatives with an interactive map

Learn more about the People of the People's House

Leadership & Officers

Speaker of the House:
Joseph W. Martin, Jr. (R–Massachusetts)
Majority Leader:
Charles A. Halleck (R–Indiana)
Minority Leader:
Sam Rayburn (D–Texas)
Democratic Whip:
John W. McCormack (D–Massachusetts)
Republican Whip:
Leslie C. Arends (R–Illinois)
Democratic Caucus Chairman:
Aime J. Forand (D–Rhode Island)
Republican Conference Chairman:
Roy O. Woodruff (R–Michigan)
Clerk of the House:
John Andrews
Sergeant at Arms:
William F. Russell
Chaplain of the House:
James Shera Montgomery – Methodist
Doorkeeper:
M. L. Meletio
Postmaster:
Frank Collier
Parliamentarian:
Lewis Deschler

To view complete lists of individuals who have served in these leadership and official positions since the 1st Congress, visit the People section