The 71st United States Congress was a meeting of the legislature of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1929, to March 4, 1931, during the first two years of Herbert Hoover's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1910 United States census. Both the House and Senate remained under Republican control, with increased majorities in each chamber. And with Herbert Hoover being sworn in as president on March 4, 1929, the Republicans maintained an overall federal government trifecta. The 71st Congress also featured the most special elections of any Congress with 27 in all. Major events March 4, 1929: Herbert C. Hoover became President of the United States October 24, 1929 – October 29, 1929: Wall Street Crash of 1929: Three multi-digit percentage drops wipe out more than $30 billion from the New York Stock Exchange (3 times greater than the annual budget of the federal government). October 25, 1929: Former U.S. Interior Secretary Albert B. Fall is convicted of bribery for his role in the Teapot Dome scandal, becoming the first Presidential cabinet member to go to prison for actions in office. Major legislation June 15, 1929: Agriculture Marketing Act, ch. 24, June 18, 1929: Reapportionment Act of 1929, ch. 28, May 14, 1930: Federal Bureau of Prisons Act, ch. 274, June 17, 1930: Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act, ch. 497, , (including: Title III, Plant Patent Act, ) July 3, 1930: Veterans Administration Act, ch. 863, March 3, 1931: Davis–Bacon Act, ch. 411, March 3, 1931: An Act To make The Star-Spangled Banner the national anthem of the United States of America, ch. 436, 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: Charles Curtis (R) President pro tempore: George H. Moses (R) Majority leader: James E. Watson (R) Minority leader: Joseph T. Robinson (D) Majority whip: Simeon D. Fess (R) Minority whip: Morris Sheppard (D) Republican Conference Secretary: Frederick Hale Democratic Caucus Secretary: Hugo Black House of Representatives Speaker: Nicholas Longworth (R) Majority leader: John Q. Tilson (R)