![]() Orrin Hatch says taking such a measure "would be a very unwise political thing to do. "It's just that no president has ever exercised that constitutional authority." ![]() As used in parliamentary law, it refers to a legislative session held not to conduct business but to satisfy a constitutional provision that neither house may adjourn for longer than a certain time without the other house's consent. The Senate this week announced it will hold nine pro forma sessions during its August break, a move most are interpreting as a means to prevent President Donald Trump from making. "But there is this other provision that says, well, if the two houses themselves can't agree on an adjournment, the president can adjourn Congress," Ritchie says. Pro forma sessions are meetings held ‘in form only.’. And ever since late May, Congress has remained in permanent session, mainly because Republican lawmakers want to prevent any more recess appointments.ĭonald Ritchie, the Senate's official historian, says several presidents have used a constitutional provision that allows them to convene a session of Congress. In the United States, pro forma sessions are brief meetings of the Senate or House of Representatives. The only way the president can make a recess appointment for Cordray is if Congress is actually in recess. Pro forma literally means as a matter of form. Obama insisted, "I will not take any options off the table when it comes to getting Richard Cordray in as director of the consumer finance protection board." The light signifying that Congress is in session may remain on this holiday season as well, since House Republicans have said they will remain in a pro-forma session. Capitol is seen above in 2009 as senators worked late into the night on legislation. Although such sessions were closed for many years, the modern Senate does most of its executive business in open session.The U.S. ![]() In 1929 the Senate decided to open all routine business to the public, including much of its executive business deliberations.Įxecutive Session: In the Senate, a portion of most days is given to executive business with the Senate meeting in executive session to consider treaties or presidential nominations. After the Senate agreed to open its doors to the public in 1795, it continued to conduct all executive business-that dealing with treaties or presidential nominations-in closed session. From 1789 to 1795 the Senate always met in closed sessions. They are informally called "lame duck" members participating in a "lame duck" session.Ĭlosed sessions of the Senate, sometimes referred to as secret sessions, are used to debate confidential information, such as classified material dealing with national security, and for deliberations during impeachment trials. on Thursday, July 27 under the provisions of S.Res.316, as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late Lowell Weicker Jr. Among the lawmakers who return for this session are those who were defeated for reelection or chose not to run again. on Wednesday, July 26 and adjourned at 12:42 a.m. Lame Duck Session: A lame duck session occurs when Congress (or either chamber) reconvenes following the November general elections. A act A measure passed by one or both Chambers. This is known as a joint meeting.įrom the Latin, meaning “as a matter of form,” a pro forma session is a brief meeting of the Senate, often only a few minutes in duration. On some occasions, the two houses of Congress meet unofficially to hear foreign dignitaries speak or for other purposes. When the Senate and the House meet together to conduct formal business, to hear an address by the president, or to count electoral ballots, it is known as a joint session. Special Session: When the Senate convenes an extra session, following sine die adjournment, it is known as a special session.Įxtraordinary Session: An extraordinary session occurs when the president exercises his constitutional authority to call Congress back into session during a recess or after a sine die adjournment.
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