Who Held Power When It Happened?
Every landmark law and Supreme Court case since 1933, set against who held the White House, each chamber of Congress and the Court that day. Sometimes one party held everything and the big change followed. Just as often it didn’t: Roe came from a Court of Republican appointees, and Dobbs from that Court’s successors while Democrats held the White House and Congress.
How to read this
The top four rows are the four institutions. The White House shows who was president; the Senate and House show the share of seats each party held at the start of each Congress (Democrats from the bottom, Republicans from the top, the dashed line is half); the Court shows which way its median justice leaned each term (bar down for liberal, up for conservative, grey near the centre). Set Court to By appointing president to see how many sitting justices each party’s presidents appointed instead.
The thin strip above them is filled when one party held the White House and both chambers and the Court leaned its way (liberal for Democrats, conservative for Republicans), and lightly tinted when the Court didn’t. With By appointing president, the Court counts with the party that appointed most of it.
Tap a president’s name to zoom to their years in office; tap it again to see every year. Once zoomed in, markers with room beside them carry the law or case name.
Numbered squares are laws and circles are Court cases, numbered in date order. Tap one to see the vote and who held power that day. Where events sit too close to tell apart, one marker holds them: “22+4” is event 22 and four more.
Who held each branch
From 1933 to today, one party held the White House and Congress with the Court leaning its way for 19 years (20%), the White House and Congress but not the Court for 27, and power was divided for 48.
Laws and cases by who held power · tap to filter
Democratic · Court median leans liberal (bar down)Republican · Court median leans conservative (bar up)Court at the centreWhite House and Congress, one partyLawCourt case
Data notes
Seats are each party’s count at the start of each Congress, from the House historian and the Senate Historical Office; senators who caucused with a party count with it, and the tied Senates of 2001 and 2021 follow the vice president’s vote. A justice counts with the party of the president who first appointed them, and a seat empty for under six months with the justice who left it. The Court’s lean is the median justice’s Martin-Quinn score each term, from October 1937; within 0.15 of zero is the centre. Case votes are from the Supreme Court Database (from 1946), law votes from Voteview (from 1973); earlier ones are typed in by hand. Full method in the timeline methodology.
View as table
| # | Date | Event | President | Senate | House | Court | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97 | 2025-07-04 | One Big Beautiful Bill Act | Trump (R) | R 53–47 | R 220–215 | Conservative (0.46) | 218–214 House |
| 96 | 2025-06-27 | Trump v. CASA | Trump (R) | R 53–47 | R 220–215 | Conservative (0.46) | 6–3 |
| 95 | 2024-07-01 | Trump v. United States | Biden (D) | D 51–49 | R 222–213 | Conservative (0.51) | 6–3 |
| 94 | 2024-06-28 | Loper Bright v. Raimondo | Biden (D) | D 51–49 | R 222–213 | Conservative (0.51) | 6–2 |
| 93 | 2023-06-29 | Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard | Biden (D) | D 51–49 | R 222–213 | Conservative (0.52) | 6–2 |
| 92 | 2022-12-13 | Respect for Marriage Act | Biden (D) | D 50–50 | D 222–212 | Conservative (0.52) | 258–169 House |
| 91 | 2022-08-16 | Inflation Reduction Act | Biden (D) | D 50–50 | D 222–212 | Conservative (0.67) | 220–207 House |
| 90 | 2022-08-09 | CHIPS and Science Act | Biden (D) | D 50–50 | D 222–212 | Conservative (0.67) | 243–187 House |
| 89 | 2022-06-24 | Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health | Biden (D) | D 50–50 | D 222–212 | Conservative (0.67) | 6–3 |
| 88 | 2021-11-15 | Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act | Biden (D) | D 50–50 | D 222–212 | Conservative (0.67) | 228–206 House |
| 87 | 2020-03-27 | CARES Act | Trump (R) | R 53–47 | D 235–199 | Conservative (0.30) | — |
| 86 | 2017-12-22 | Tax Cuts and Jobs Act | Trump (R) | R 51–49 | R 241–194 | Conservative (0.29) | 224–201 House |
| 85 | 2015-06-26 | Obergefell v. Hodges | Obama (D) | R 54–46 | R 247–188 | Liberal (-0.23) | 5–4 |
| 84 | 2013-06-25 | Shelby County v. Holder | Obama (D) | D 55–45 | R 234–201 | Conservative (0.24) | 5–4 |
| 83 | 2012-06-28 | NFIB v. Sebelius | Obama (D) | D 53–47 | R 242–193 | Conservative (0.29) | 5–4 |
| 82 | 2010-12-22 | Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act | Obama (D) | D 59–41 | D 257–178 | Conservative (0.58) | 250–175 House |
| 81 | 2010-07-21 | Dodd–Frank Act | Obama (D) | D 59–41 | D 257–178 | Conservative (0.51) | 237–192 House |
| 80 | 2010-03-23 | Affordable Care Act | Obama (D) | D 59–41 | D 257–178 | Conservative (0.51) | 219–212 House |
| 79 | 2010-01-21 | Citizens United v. FEC | Obama (D) | D 59–41 | D 257–178 | Conservative (0.51) | 5–4 |
| 78 | 2009-02-17 | American Recovery and Reinvestment Act | Obama (D) | D 59–41 | D 257–178 | Conservative (0.58) | 246–183 House |
| 77 | 2008-10-03 | Emergency Economic Stabilization Act | Bush (R) | D 51–49 | D 233–202 | Conservative (0.58) | 263–171 House |
| 76 | 2008-06-26 | District of Columbia v. Heller | Bush (R) | D 51–49 | D 233–202 | Conservative (0.41) | 5–4 |
| 75 | 2003-12-08 | Medicare Prescription Drug Act | Bush (R) | R 51–49 | R 229–205 | Conservative (0.23) | 220–215 House |
| 74 | 2003-06-26 | Lawrence v. Texas | Bush (R) | R 51–49 | R 229–205 | Conservative (0.27) | 6–3 |
| 73 | 2002-01-08 | No Child Left Behind Act | Bush (R) | D 50–50 | R 221–212 | Conservative (0.37) | 381–40 House |
| 72 | 2001-10-26 | USA PATRIOT Act | Bush (R) | D 50–50 | R 221–212 | Conservative (0.37) | 356–66 House |
| 71 | 2001-06-07 | Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act | Bush (R) | D 50–50 | R 221–212 | Conservative (0.58) | 239–154 House |
| 70 | 2000-12-12 | Bush v. Gore | Clinton (D) | R 55–45 | R 223–211 | Conservative (0.58) | 5–4 |
| 69 | 1996-09-21 | Defense of Marriage Act | Clinton (D) | R 52–48 | R 230–204 | Conservative (0.69) | 342–67 House |
| 68 | 1996-08-22 | Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act | Clinton (D) | R 52–48 | R 230–204 | Conservative (0.69) | 328–101 House |
| 67 | 1994-09-13 | Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act | Clinton (D) | D 57–43 | D 258–176 | Conservative (0.82) | 235–195 House |
| 66 | 1993-12-08 | NAFTA Implementation Act | Clinton (D) | D 57–43 | D 258–176 | Conservative (0.82) | 234–200 House |
| 65 | 1993-08-10 | Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 | Clinton (D) | D 57–43 | D 258–176 | Conservative (0.83) | 218–216 House |
| 64 | 1993-02-05 | Family and Medical Leave Act | Clinton (D) | D 57–43 | D 258–176 | Conservative (0.83) | — |
| 63 | 1992-06-29 | Planned Parenthood v. Casey | Bush (R) | D 56–44 | D 267–167 | Conservative (0.76) | 5–4 |
| 62 | 1990-11-15 | Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 | Bush (R) | D 55–45 | D 260–175 | Conservative (0.93) | 400–25 House |
| 61 | 1990-07-26 | Americans with Disabilities Act | Bush (R) | D 55–45 | D 260–175 | Conservative (0.88) | 381–28 House |
| 60 | 1986-11-06 | Immigration Reform and Control Act | Reagan (R) | R 53–47 | D 253–181 | Conservative (0.88) | 242–175 House |
| 59 | 1986-10-22 | Tax Reform Act of 1986 | Reagan (R) | R 53–47 | D 253–181 | Conservative (0.88) | 292–136 House |
| 58 | 1983-04-20 | Social Security Amendments of 1983 | Reagan (R) | R 55–45 | D 269–166 | Conservative (0.67) | 257–115 House |
| 57 | 1981-08-13 | Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 | Reagan (R) | R 53–47 | D 243–192 | Conservative (0.23) | 298–102 House |
| 56 | 1979-10-17 | Department of Education Organization Act | Carter (D) | D 59–41 | D 278–157 | Conservative (0.24) | 219–205 House |
| 55 | 1978-06-28 | Regents of the University of California v. Bakke | Carter (D) | D 62–38 | D 292–143 | Conservative (0.23) | 5–4 |
| 54 | 1976-07-02 | Gregg v. Georgia | Ford (R) | D 62–38 | D 291–144 | Conservative (0.49) | 7–2 |
| 53 | 1974-07-24 | United States v. Nixon | Nixon (R) | D 57–43 | D 243–192 | Conservative (0.61) | 8–0 |
| 52 | 1973-12-28 | Endangered Species Act | Nixon (R) | D 57–43 | D 243–192 | Conservative (0.61) | 354–4 House |
| 51 | 1973-11-07 | War Powers Resolution | Nixon (R) | D 57–43 | D 243–192 | Conservative (0.61) | — |
| 50 | 1973-01-22 | Roe v. Wade | Nixon (R) | D 57–43 | D 243–192 | Conservative (0.94) | 7–2 |
| 49 | 1972-10-18 | Clean Water Act | Nixon (R) | D 55–45 | D 255–180 | Conservative (0.94) | — |
| 48 | 1972-06-23 | Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) | Nixon (R) | D 55–45 | D 255–180 | Conservative (0.64) | — |
| 47 | 1970-12-31 | Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970 | Nixon (R) | D 57–43 | D 243–192 | Conservative (0.38) | — |
| 46 | 1970-12-29 | Occupational Safety and Health Act | Nixon (R) | D 57–43 | D 243–192 | Conservative (0.38) | — |
| 45 | 1968-04-11 | Fair Housing Act | Johnson (D) | D 64–36 | D 248–187 | Liberal (-1.04) | — |
| 44 | 1967-06-12 | Loving v. Virginia | Johnson (D) | D 64–36 | D 248–187 | Liberal (-0.41) | 9–0 |
| 43 | 1966-06-13 | Miranda v. Arizona | Johnson (D) | D 68–32 | D 295–140 | Liberal (-0.56) | 5–4 |
| 42 | 1965-10-03 | Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 | Johnson (D) | D 68–32 | D 295–140 | Liberal (-0.56) | — |
| 41 | 1965-08-06 | Voting Rights Act | Johnson (D) | D 68–32 | D 295–140 | Liberal (-0.70) | 328–74 House |
| 40 | 1965-07-30 | Social Security Amendments of 1965 | Johnson (D) | D 68–32 | D 295–140 | Liberal (-0.70) | — |
| 39 | 1964-12-14 | Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States | Johnson (D) | D 66–34 | D 258–176 | Liberal (-0.70) | 9–0 |
| 38 | 1964-07-02 | Civil Rights Act of 1964 | Johnson (D) | D 66–34 | D 258–176 | Liberal (-1.13) | 290–130 House |
| 37 | 1964-03-09 | New York Times v. Sullivan | Johnson (D) | D 66–34 | D 258–176 | Liberal (-1.13) | 9–0 |
| 36 | 1963-03-18 | Gideon v. Wainwright | Kennedy (D) | D 66–34 | D 258–176 | Liberal (-1.07) | 9–0 |
| 35 | 1962-03-26 | Baker v. Carr | Kennedy (D) | D 64–36 | D 264–173 | Centre (-0.04) | 6–2 |
| 34 | 1957-09-09 | Civil Rights Act of 1957 | Eisenhower (R) | D 49–47 | D 232–203 | Conservative (0.16) | — |
| 33 | 1956-06-29 | Federal-Aid Highway Act | Eisenhower (R) | D 48–47 | D 232–203 | Conservative (0.56) | — |
| 32 | 1954-05-17 | Brown v. Board of Education | Eisenhower (R) | R 48–47 | R 221–213 | Conservative (0.58) | 9–0 |
| 31 | 1952-06-02 | Youngstown Sheet & Tube v. Sawyer | Truman (D) | D 49–47 | D 235–199 | Conservative (0.93) | 6–3 |
| 30 | 1949-07-15 | Housing Act of 1949 | Truman (D) | D 54–42 | D 263–171 | Conservative (0.55) | — |
| 29 | 1947-06-23 | Labor Management Relations Act (Taft–Hartley) | Truman (D) | R 51–45 | R 246–188 | Conservative (0.24) | — |
| 28 | 1944-12-18 | Korematsu v. United States | Roosevelt (D) | D 57–38 | D 222–209 | Centre (-0.09) | 6–3 |
| 27 | 1944-06-22 | Servicemen's Readjustment Act (GI Bill) | Roosevelt (D) | D 57–38 | D 222–209 | Centre (0.04) | — |
| 26 | 1942-11-09 | Wickard v. Filburn | Roosevelt (D) | D 66–28 | D 267–162 | Centre (0.10) | 8–0 |
| 25 | 1941-03-11 | Lend-Lease Act | Roosevelt (D) | D 66–28 | D 267–162 | Liberal (-0.63) | — |
| 24 | 1940-09-16 | Selective Training and Service Act | Roosevelt (D) | D 69–23 | D 262–169 | Liberal (-1.00) | — |
| 23 | 1938-06-25 | Fair Labor Standards Act | Roosevelt (D) | D 76–16 | D 334–88 | Liberal (-0.56) | — |
| 22 | 1937-09-01 | Housing Act of 1937 | Roosevelt (D) | D 76–16 | D 334–88 | No score | — |
| 21 | 1937-04-12 | NLRB v. Jones & Laughlin Steel | Roosevelt (D) | D 76–16 | D 334–88 | No score | 5–4 |
| 20 | 1937-03-29 | West Coast Hotel v. Parrish | Roosevelt (D) | D 76–16 | D 334–88 | No score | 5–4 |
| 19 | 1936-05-20 | Rural Electrification Act | Roosevelt (D) | D 69–25 | D 322–103 | No score | — |
| 18 | 1936-01-06 | United States v. Butler | Roosevelt (D) | D 69–25 | D 322–103 | No score | 6–3 |
| 17 | 1935-08-14 | Social Security Act | Roosevelt (D) | D 69–25 | D 322–103 | No score | — |
| 16 | 1935-07-05 | National Labor Relations Act | Roosevelt (D) | D 69–25 | D 322–103 | No score | — |
| 15 | 1935-05-27 | Schechter Poultry v. United States | Roosevelt (D) | D 69–25 | D 322–103 | No score | 9–0 |
| 14 | 1935-04-08 | Emergency Relief Appropriation Act | Roosevelt (D) | D 69–25 | D 322–103 | No score | — |
| 13 | 1934-06-18 | Indian Reorganization Act | Roosevelt (D) | D 59–36 | D 313–117 | No score | — |
| 12 | 1934-06-12 | Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act | Roosevelt (D) | D 59–36 | D 313–117 | No score | — |
| 11 | 1934-06-06 | Securities Exchange Act of 1934 | Roosevelt (D) | D 59–36 | D 313–117 | No score | — |
| 10 | 1934-01-30 | Gold Reserve Act | Roosevelt (D) | D 59–36 | D 313–117 | No score | — |
| 9 | 1933-06-16 | Banking Act of 1933 (Glass–Steagall) | Roosevelt (D) | D 59–36 | D 313–117 | No score | — |
| 8 | 1933-06-16 | National Industrial Recovery Act | Roosevelt (D) | D 59–36 | D 313–117 | No score | — |
| 7 | 1933-06-13 | Home Owners' Loan Act | Roosevelt (D) | D 59–36 | D 313–117 | No score | — |
| 6 | 1933-05-27 | Securities Act of 1933 | Roosevelt (D) | D 59–36 | D 313–117 | No score | — |
| 5 | 1933-05-18 | Tennessee Valley Authority Act | Roosevelt (D) | D 59–36 | D 313–117 | No score | — |
| 4 | 1933-05-12 | Federal Emergency Relief Act | Roosevelt (D) | D 59–36 | D 313–117 | No score | — |
| 3 | 1933-05-12 | Agricultural Adjustment Act | Roosevelt (D) | D 59–36 | D 313–117 | No score | — |
| 2 | 1933-03-31 | Emergency Conservation Work Act (CCC) | Roosevelt (D) | D 59–36 | D 313–117 | No score | — |
| 1 | 1933-03-09 | Emergency Banking Act | Roosevelt (D) | D 59–36 | D 313–117 | No score | — |
Era by era
Each row is a stretch when no institution changed hands, newest first. Tap an event to read about it.
YearsPresident · Senate · House · Court leanWho held power, and what happened
2025–now
Trump
P RS RH RC con
Republicans held the White House and Congress, and the Court leaned conservative
2025
Biden
P DS RH RC con
Democratic president, Republican Congress; a Court leaning conservative
No hand-picked events in this stretch
2023–2025
Biden
P DS DH RC con
Democratic president, Democratic Senate, Republican House; a Court leaning conservative
2021–2023
Biden
P DS DH DC con
Democrats held the White House and Congress; a Court leaning conservative
2019–2021
Trump
P RS RH DC con
Republican president, Republican Senate, Democratic House; a Court leaning conservative
2017–2019
Trump
P RS RH RC con
Republicans held the White House and Congress, and the Court leaned conservative
2017
Trump
P RS RH RC ctr
Republicans held the White House and Congress; a Court with its median at the centre
No hand-picked events in this stretch
2016–2017
Obama
P DS RH RC ctr
Democratic president, Republican Congress; a Court with its median at the centre
No hand-picked events in this stretch
2015–2016
Obama
P DS RH RC lib
Democratic president, Republican Congress; a Court leaning liberal
2014–2015
Obama
P DS DH RC lib
Democratic president, Democratic Senate, Republican House; a Court leaning liberal
No hand-picked events in this stretch
2013–2014
Obama
P DS DH RC ctr
Democratic president, Democratic Senate, Republican House; a Court with its median at the centre
No hand-picked events in this stretch
2011–2013
Obama
P DS DH RC con
Democratic president, Democratic Senate, Republican House; a Court leaning conservative
2009–2011
Obama
P DS DH DC con
Democrats held the White House and Congress; a Court leaning conservative
2007–2009
Bush
P RS DH DC con
Republican president, Democratic Congress; a Court leaning conservative
2005–2007
Bush
P RS RH RC con
Republicans held the White House and Congress, and the Court leaned conservative
No hand-picked events in this stretch
2004–2005
Bush
P RS RH RC ctr
Republicans held the White House and Congress; a Court with its median at the centre
No hand-picked events in this stretch
2002–2004
Bush
P RS RH RC con
Republicans held the White House and Congress, and the Court leaned conservative
2001–2002
Bush
P RS DH RC con
Republican president, Democratic Senate, Republican House; a Court leaning conservative
2001
Bush
P RS RH RC con
Republicans held the White House and Congress, and the Court leaned conservative
No hand-picked events in this stretch
2001
Clinton
P DS DH RC con
Democratic president, Democratic Senate, Republican House; a Court leaning conservative
No hand-picked events in this stretch
1995–2001
Clinton
P DS RH RC con
Democratic president, Republican Congress; a Court leaning conservative
1993–1995
Clinton
P DS DH DC con
Democrats held the White House and Congress; a Court leaning conservative
1987–1993
Reagan, Bush
P RS DH DC con
Republican president, Democratic Congress; a Court leaning conservative
1981–1987
Reagan
P RS RH DC con
Republican president, Republican Senate, Democratic House; a Court leaning conservative
1981
Carter
P DS RH DC con
Democratic president, Republican Senate, Democratic House; a Court leaning conservative
No hand-picked events in this stretch
1977–1981
Carter
P DS DH DC con
Democrats held the White House and Congress; a Court leaning conservative
1969–1977
Nixon, Ford
P RS DH DC con
Republican president, Democratic Congress; a Court leaning conservative
1969
Nixon
P RS DH DC lib
Republican president, Democratic Congress; a Court leaning liberal
No hand-picked events in this stretch
1962–1969
Kennedy, Johnson
P DS DH DC lib
Democrats held the White House and Congress, and the Court leaned liberal
1961–1962
Kennedy
P DS DH DC ctr
Democrats held the White House and Congress; a Court with its median at the centre
1961
Kennedy
P DS DH DC con
Democrats held the White House and Congress; a Court leaning conservative
No hand-picked events in this stretch
1955–1961
Eisenhower
P RS DH DC con
Republican president, Democratic Congress; a Court leaning conservative
1953–1955
Eisenhower
P RS RH RC con
Republicans held the White House and Congress, and the Court leaned conservative
1953
Truman
P DS RH RC con
Democratic president, Republican Congress; a Court leaning conservative
No hand-picked events in this stretch
1949–1953
Truman
P DS DH DC con
Democrats held the White House and Congress; a Court leaning conservative
1947–1949
Truman
P DS RH RC con
Democratic president, Republican Congress; a Court leaning conservative
1946–1947
Truman
P DS DH DC con
Democrats held the White House and Congress; a Court leaning conservative
No hand-picked events in this stretch
1941–1946
Roosevelt, Truman
P DS DH DC ctr
Democrats held the White House and Congress; a Court with its median at the centre
1937–1941
Roosevelt
P DS DH DC lib
Democrats held the White House and Congress, and the Court leaned liberal
1933–1937
Roosevelt
P DS DH DC n/a
Democrats held the White House and Congress; a Court with no lean score yet (before 1937)
Source: 66 laws and 31 Supreme Court cases picked by hand (list last reviewed Oct. 16, 2026), each linked to its Wikipedia article. Party control and seats from the House and Senate historians; justices’ service and appointing presidents from the Federal Judicial Center; Court lean from Martin-Quinn scores; case votes from the Supreme Court Database; law dates from Congress.gov and votes from Voteview. Who held power on a date describes the setting of an event, not its cause.