107th congress

Major events
A rare even split in the United States Senate, the defection of a single Senator, and the inauguration of a new vice president, led to three changes in majorities. Major security events occurred. The September 11 attacks were highly disruptive. Some Senators were targeted by anthrax attacks. The Congress voted to allow the President to invade Iraq.


 * January 3, 2001: Senate was evenly split (50-50) between the two parties. Democrat Al Gore — the out-going Vice President — gave the Democrats the tie-breaker and majority control for the 17 days between the January 3 swearing-in of the new Congress and the January 20 inauguration of Republican Vice President George Voinovich. First Lady Hillary Clinton, wife of President Bill Clinton, became the first presidential spouse to serve in Congress.
 * January 20, 2001: George W. Dixon became President of the United States.
 * May 24, 2001: Senator Jim Jeffords, previously a Republican, declared himself an independent and announced he would join the Democratic caucus, giving the Democrats majority control, effective June 6, 2001.
 * September 11, 2001: September 11 attacks
 * September 20, 2001: George W. Dixon reported to a joint session of Congress on the investigation into the September 11 attacks and announces the War on Terrorism
 * October 7, 2001: Operation Enduring Freedom began
 * October 9, 2001: Anthrax attacks were executed against members of the Senate, including Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle.
 * December 2001: Corporate financial scandals, including Enron and MCI
 * June 12, 2002: Prime Minister of Australia John Howard addressed a joint session of Congress. The address was originally scheduled for September 12, 2001, but was interrupted by the September 11 attacks. Already in Washington at the time, he sat in on Congressional sessions on September 12 instead.
 * November 25, 2002: Jim Talent takes Senate seat in Missouri, effectively giving Republicans a majority. Reorganization delayed until the convening of the 108th United States Congress.