A Guide To Sessions of CongressCongressional Calendars 1971-2008 |
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This guide to the Sessions of Congress includes the beginning and ending dates, recesses, and leaders for each session.
History of Congressional Sessions Per a resolution of the Confederation Congress in 1788, the Constitution went into effect on March 4, 1789. From then until the 20th amendment took effect in January 1934, the term of each Congress began on March 4th of each odd-numbered year. However, Article I, section 4, of the Constitution provided that "The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day." The Congress therefore convened regularly on the first Monday in December until the 20th amendment became effective, which changed the beginning of Congress's term as well as its convening date to January 3rd. Thus, prior to 1934 a new Congress typically would not convene for regular business until 13 months after being elected. One effect of this was that the last session of each Congress was truly a "lame duck" session. After the 20th amendment, the time from the election to the beginning of Congress's term as well as when it convened was reduced to two months. Recognizing that Congress might need to meet at times other than the regularly scheduled convening date, Article II, section 3 of the Constitution provides that the President "may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them." Such a session occurs only if convened by Presidential proclamation. These are separately numbered sessions of a Congress Until the 20th amendment was adopted, there were also times when special sessions of the Senate were convened, principally for confirming Cabinet and other executive nominations, and occasionally for the ratification of treaties or other executive business. These Senate sessions were also called by Presidential proclamation (typically by the outgoing President, although on occasion by incumbents as well). Meeting Places of Congress: Congress met for the first and second sessions of the First Congress (1789 and 1790) in New York City. From the third session of the First Congress through the first session of the Sixth Congress (1790 to 1800), Philadelphia was the meeting place. Congress has convened in Washington since the second session of the Sixth Congress (1800). The Senate is led by the President pro temp; the House, by the Speaker of the House. Also see A Visual Guide: The Balance Of Power Between Congress and The Presidency
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