How the 113th Congress redefined legislative obstruction and federal power between 2013 and 2015

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Spanning from 2013 to 2015, the 113th United States Congress navigated a rare period of divided government. Beyond the routine legislative agenda, this session became defined by high-stakes procedural battles, landmark Supreme Court rulings, and a significant federal shutdown that reshaped the boundaries of executive and legislative authority.

The 113th Congress, which sat from January 3, 2013, to January 3, 2015, operated under a split legislature: Democrats held the Senate while Republicans controlled the House. This configuration, which would not recur until the 118th Congress, created a tense environment for governance. The period was marked by intense procedural maneuvering, including a 12-hour, 52-minute speech by Senator Rand Paul in March 2013 to challenge a CIA nomination, and a 21-hour, 19-minute address by Senator Ted Cruz in September 2013 opposing the Affordable Care Act.

Tensions culminated in a federal government shutdown from October 1 to 17, 2013, triggered by a failure to enact funding legislation for the 2014 fiscal year. Amidst this gridlock, the Senate eventually moved to curb its own procedural hurdles. In November 2013, the chamber voted 52–48 to eliminate the filibuster for most judicial and executive branch nominees, though it retained the practice for Supreme Court appointments and general legislation. This shift reflected a broader struggle to maintain functionality in an increasingly polarized political climate.

The session also witnessed major judicial interventions that altered the national landscape. In June 2013, the Supreme Court issued two transformative rulings: Shelby County v. Holder, which invalidated a key section of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and United States v. Windsor, which compelled the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages performed under state law. These events, alongside the inauguration of President Barack Obama for his second term and the emergence of disclosures regarding surveillance programs, ensured that the 113th Congress remained a focal point of American political history.

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