The 92nd 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, 1971, to January 3, 1973, during the third and fourth years of Richard Nixon's presidency.
The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the 1960 census. Both chambers maintained a Democratic majority.
Major events
Passing legislation on revenue-sharing was a key event of the congress. President Richard Nixon had it listed on his list of top policies to cover for the year. Nixon signed the bill into law at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The law gained support from many state and local officials including: San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto whose city received $27 million in revenue-sharing money in the first year. Alioto said that many projects that would not have been possible could now be done, "That will effectively enable us to meet those programs which up to now because of very tough budgeting we've had to trench."
Major legislation
December 18, 1971: Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, , December 23, 1971: National Cancer Act, , February 7, 1972: Federal Election Campaign Act, , March 24, 1972: Equal Employment Opportunity Act, , June 23, 1972: Title IX Amendment of the Higher Education Act, , October 6, 1972: Federal Advisory Committee Act, , October 18, 1972: Federal Water Pollution Control Amendments of 1972, , October 21, 1972: Marine Mammal Protection Act, , October 27, 1972: Consumer Product Safety Act, , October 27, 1972: Noise Control Act, , October 27, 1972: Coastal Zone Management Act, ,
Constitutional amendments
March 23, 1971: Approved an amendment to the United States Constitution prohibiting the states and the federal government from using age as a reason for denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States who are at least eighteen years old, and submitted it to the state legislatures for ratification July 1, 1971: The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified by the requisite number of states (38) to become part of the Constitution March 22, 1972: Approved an amendment to the Constitution designed to guarantee equal rights for women, and submitted it to the state legislatures for ratification This amendment, commonly known as the Equal Rights Amendment, was later rendered inoperative, as it was not ratified within the seven–year time frame set by Congress (nor the later time extension granted)
Party summary
The count below identifies party affiliations at the beginning of the first session of this Congress, and includes members from vacancies and newly admitted states, when they were first seated. Changes resulting from subsequent replacements are shown below in the Changes in membership section.
Senate
House of Representatives
Leadership
Senate
President: Spiro Agnew (R) President pro tempore: Richard Russell Jr. (D), until January 21, 1971 Allen J. Ellender (D), January 22, 1971 – July 27, 1972 James Eastland (D), from July 28, 1972 Permanent Acting President pro tempore: Lee Metcalf (D)
Majority (Democratic) leadership
Majority Leader: Mike Mansfield
Majority Whip: Robert Byrd
Caucus Secretary: Frank Moss
Minority (Republican) leadership
Minority Leader: Hugh Scott
Minority Whip: Robert P. Griffin
Republican Conference Chairman: Margaret Chase Smith
Republican Conference Secretary: Norris Cotton
National Senatorial Committee Chair: Peter H. Dominick
Policy Committee Chairman: Gordon Allott
House of Representatives
Speaker: Carl Albert (D)