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What is All this Talk About Sessions?

January of 2008 brings with it three types of sessions: a new session of Congress, a joint session for the State of the Union, and maybe even a few pro forma sessions. What does this all mean?

The annual series of meetings of a Congress is called a session. Each Congress has at least two sessions, based on the constitutional mandate that Congress assemble at least once a year. The Constitution’s 20th Amendment sets the beginning of a new session as “noon on the 3rd day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.”

In addition, a meeting of one or both chambers is called a session. Either chamber is said to be in session on any particular day when it is meeting.


Joint Sessions: The Senate and the House meet in joint sessions to conduct formal business, hear an address by the president, or count electoral votes.

 Pro Forma Session: A pro forma session is a brief meeting (sometimes lasting only seconds) in which no business is conducted. It is held usually to satisfy the constitutional obligation that neither chamber can adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the other.

 Lame Duck Sessions: A lame duck session occurs when Congress (or either chamber) reconvenes following the November general elections to address some unfinished business. Among the lawmakers who return for this session will be those who were defeated for reelection or chose not to run again. They are informally called "lame duck" members participating in a "lame duck" session.

Special Sessions: When the president convenes a session after Congress has adjourned sine die, it is called a special session.

Closed Sessions: Closed sessions of the Senate, sometimes referred to as secret sessions, are used for debate over confidential information such as classified material dealing with national secuity, or for deliberations during impeachment trials. Between 1789 and 1795, every session of the Senate was closed, and until 1929 the Senate routinely discussed all of its executive business—treaties and nominations — in closed sessions.


Past Feature Articles

 
  

Historical information provided by the Senate Historical Office.


It was up to the first Senate in 1789 to organize, establish its rules, and set precedents that would govern its actions in years to come, evolving into a complex legislative body.