United States House of Representatives: History, Art, & Archives
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77th Congress (1941–1943)

Congressional Profile

Total Membership:

  • 435 Representatives
  • 2 Delegates
  • 2 Resident Commissioners

Party Divisions:*

  • 267 Democrats
  • 162 Republicans
  • 3 Progressives
  • 1 American-Labor
  • 1 Farmer-Labor
  • 1 Independent Democrat

*Party division totals are based on election day results.

  • Election Statistics, 1940 [PDF]
Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn/tiles/non-collection/s/speaker_rayburn_seated_2005_016_043.xml Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives
About this object The longest serving Speaker in House History, Sam Rayburn of Texas presided over 10 Congresses as Speaker.

Congress Overview

Democrats maintained control of Congress and also the White House after President Franklin Roosevelt’s unprecedented election to a third term in 1940. The European war consumed Congress’s attention. The Lend–Lease Act allowed the U.S. to provide supplies to Great Britain, while the peacetime draft was extended by one vote in the House. But after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the 77th Congress (1941–1943) declared war on the Axis Powers. Legislation quickly followed to mobilize the country, generate greater revenues, and impose price controls.

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 77th Congress [PDF]
  • Learn more about the House of Representatives with an interactive map

Learn more about the People of the People's House

Committee Information

Leadership & Officers

Speaker of the House:
Sam Rayburn (D–Texas)
Majority Leader:
John W. McCormack (D–Massachusetts)
Minority Leader:
Joseph W. Martin, Jr. (R–Massachusetts)
Democratic Whip:
Patrick J. Boland (D–Pennsylvania) 1
Robert Ramspeck (D–Georgia)
Republican Whip:
Harry L. Englebright (R–California) 2
Democratic Caucus Chairman:
Richard M. Duncan (D–Missouri)
Republican Conference Chairman:
Roy O. Woodruff (R–Michigan)
Clerk of the House:
South Trimble
Sergeant at Arms:
Kenneth Romney
Chaplain of the House:
James Shera Montgomery – Methodist
Doorkeeper:
Joseph J. Sinnott
Postmaster:
Finis E. Scott
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

Legislative Activities

House Calendar
[PDF]

Session Dates

Saturday/Sunday Sessions

Joint Meetings, Joint Sessions, & Inaugurations

Related Collection Object

Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn
Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn
1941
Sam Rayburn had his portrait painted by British artist Douglas Chandor shortly after his election as Speaker. Chandor, who also painted Winston Churchill and Queen Elizabeth II, held sittings with Rayburn …

Related House Records

Japanese Internment Bill
Japanese Internment Bill
March 20, 1942
The United States entered World War II in December 1941 after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. President Franklin Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, authorizing evacuation …
Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps Bill
Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps Bill
January 28, 1942
According to the House report recommending passage of the bill, the intent of H.R. 6293 was to “make available to the national defense, when needed, the knowledge, skill, and special training of the women …
Tally Sheet for Declaration of War against Japan
Tally Sheet for Declaration of War against Japan
December 8, 1941
This tally sheet, documenting the House’s decision to declare war against Japan on December 8, 1941, is notable because of the lone “nay” vote. Despite pressure from her fellow Members, Montana Representative …

Related Historical Highlights

The Lend-Lease Act of 1941
The Lend-Lease Act of 1941
March 11, 1941
The House of Representatives voted to give final approval to the Lend-Lease Act—authorizing the President to sell, lease, or lend military hardware to any country he designated as vital to American national …
The Declaration of War Against Japan
The Declaration of War Against Japan
December 08, 1941
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war against Japan in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) Act
The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) Act
May 14, 1942
The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) Act, which authorized a voluntary enrollment program for up to 150,000 women to join the U.S. Army in a noncombat capacity, was signed into law.

Footnotes

1Died in office, May 18, 1942.

2Died in office, May 13, 1943.

Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov