The Great Depression and the Social Security Act
The stock market crash of 1929 was followed by the Great Depression, with roughly one in four workers unemployed at its worst. In 1935 Congress passed the Social Security Act, creating federal old-age benefits and a federal-state unemployment insurance system.
Resulting law: Social Security Act (Pub. L. 74-271)
From event to law
Who voted for Social Security, and what did the Senate try to change? Open any vote below to see every legislator.
- EventOctober 29, 1929
Stock market crash
"Black Tuesday" caps a week of heavy losses and marks the start of the Great Depression.
- EventJune 29, 1934
Committee on Economic Security
President Franklin Roosevelt creates a cabinet committee to design an economic security program.
- VoteApril 19, 1935
House passes H.R. 7260
The Social Security bill passes the House by a wide, bipartisan margin.
House, 74th Congress, roll call 39 · H.R. 7260
372 yea33 nayPassed
See how every representative votedParty Yea Nay Democrat 288 13 Republican 77 18 Progressive 6 0 Farmer-Labor 1 2 - VoteJune 19, 1935
Senate adds the Clark amendment
The Senate votes to let employers with their own pension plans opt out of the federal old-age program. The change was later dropped in conference.
Senate, 74th Congress, roll call 79 · H.R. 7260
51 yea35 nayPassed
See how every senator votedParty Yea Nay Democrat 35 30 Republican 16 3 Farmer-Labor 0 1 Progressive 0 1 - VoteJune 19, 1935
Senate passes the bill
The Senate passes the bill the same day.
Senate, 74th Congress, roll call 82 · H.R. 7260
77 yea6 nayPassed
See how every senator votedParty Yea Nay Democrat 60 1 Republican 15 5 Farmer-Labor 1 0 Progressive 1 0 - LawAugust 14, 1935
Signed into law
President Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act.
Look up the votes
Party labels are those used at the time of the vote. The parties' coalitions and positions have changed over time, so a party name in 1864 or 1919 does not map directly onto the party today.
Sources
- Social Security Administration: Legislative History of the 1935 Act
- Social Security Administration: Historical Background
- Voteview: Congressional Roll-Call Votes Database (vote tallies and member votes)
Tallies count members recorded as voting yea or nay. Official counts printed at the time can differ by a vote or two because of pairs and later corrections.