Friday, January 3, 2014

1st Session of 113th Congress Ends, 2nd Begins

One of those little noted political games took place today on Capital Hill. Just before the noon hour, both Houses of Congress, with only a limited number of members even in town, adjourned sine die, ending the 1st session of the 113th Congress. A few minutes later both bodies, again with the vast majority out-of-town, gaveled into being the 2nd Session of the 113th Congress.

All of this was driven by Section 2 of the 20th Amendment (ratified January 23rd, 1933). That section reads:

“The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.”

The House will hold its first real meeting of the 2nd Session on Tuesday. The Senate will start on Monday.


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