The 83rd United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 1953, until January 3, 1955, during the last two weeks of the Truman administration, with the remainder spanning the first two years of Dwight Eisenhower's presidency. It was composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The apportionment of seats in the House was based on the 1950 U.S. census. The Republicans gained the majority in both chambers, winning back full control of Congress for the first time since the 80th Congress in 1947, and with Dwight Eisenhower being sworn in as president on January 20, 1953, this gave the Republicans an overall federal government trifecta for the first time since the 71st Congress in 1929. Major events January 20, 1953: Dwight Eisenhower is sworn in as President of the United States in his first inauguration March 1, 1954: U.S. Capitol shooting incident December 2, 1954: Joseph McCarthy is censured by the U.S. Senate Major legislation July 3, 1953: Small Business Act, , ch. 282, August 7, 1953: Refugee Relief Act, August 7, 1953: Submerged Lands Act, ch. 345, August 14, 1953: Public Law 280, , May 13, 1954: Saint Lawrence Seaway Act, ch. 201, August 12, 1954: Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act, ch. 649, title II, §201, August 13, 1954: Multiple Mineral Development Act, ch. 730, August 16, 1954: Internal Revenue Code of 1954, , ch. 736, Federal Unemployment Tax Act, §1(d), National Firearms Act, §1(d), August 24, 1954: Communist Control Act of 1954, ch. 886, August 30, 1954: Atomic Energy Act of 1954, 1954: Agricultural Act of 1954 1954: Water Facilities Act of 1954 Party summary Senate House of Representatives Leadership Senate President: Alben W. Barkley (D), until January 20, 1953 Richard Nixon (R), from January 20, 1953 President pro tempore: Styles Bridges (R) Majority (Republican) leadership Majority Leader: Robert A. Taft, until July 31, 1953 (died) William Knowland, from August 3, 1953 Majority Whip: Leverett Saltonstall Republican Conference Chairman: Eugene Millikin Republican Conference Secretary: Milton Young National Senatorial Committee Chair: Everett Dirksen Policy Committee Chairman: Homer S. Ferguson Minority (Democratic) leadership Minority Leader and Conference Chairman: Lyndon B. Johnson Minority Whip: Earle Clements Democratic Caucus Secretary: Thomas C. Hennings Jr. House of Representatives Speaker: Joseph W. Martin Jr. (R) Majority (Republican) leadership Majority Leader: Charles A. Halleck Majority Whip: