Capitol Corner
Sessions of Congress: Lengths
How many days per year does Congress usually spend in session? Historically are they meeting for longer or shorter periods?
Looking at just the past 11 years, the House has been in session an average of 142 days a year – the Senate, 162 days. You can compare historically how many days a year recent Congresses have spent in session compared to earlier ones by examining the chart provided below.
Part of the explanation for the Senate’s greater number of days in session has to do with Senate procedure. In order to avoid creating new “legislative days,” and allowing procedural complications to occur, the Senate will sometimes come into session, and then quickly adjourn without conducting any substantive business. Although some of these “pro forma” sessions, as they are known, only last for a minute or two, they still count as a day of session.
Each Congress is two years in length, and there are two sessions in each Congress. A session lasts for about one year, or until both houses of Congress decide to adjourn for that year. Earlier Congresses sometimes divided the two years into as many as 3 sessions. However, since 1933, with adoption of the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution, Congress has held 2 sessions a year (with only two exceptions during WWII.)
Congress usually begins an annual session on January 3 of each year, but can also choose a day other than January 3 to convene a session if they pass a resolution in advance providing for a date change. If January 3 happens to fall on a Saturday or Sunday, Congress typically does change the start date.
On days when Congress is not in session, Members are not necessarily “not working.” They may still be holding hearings, may be conducting work in their various local offices, may be holding town meetings or meeting with constituents, may be engaging in official travel - or be on vacation.
Here is a 30-year look at the calendar days Congress has spent in session:
Congress 1969-2009 |
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|
Days in Session* |
|
Congress |
House |
Senate |
111th (2009 only) |
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110th (2007-2008) |
285 |
373 |
109th (2005-2006) |
226 |
297 |
108th (2003-2004) |
248 |
300 |
107th (2001-2002) |
272 |
322 |
106th (1999-2000) |
278 |
303 |
105th (1997-98) |
251 |
296 |
104th (1995-96) |
290 |
343 |
103rd (1993-94) |
265 |
291 |
102nd (1991-92) |
277 |
287 |
101st (1989-90) |
281 |
274 |
100th (1987-88) |
298 |
307 |
99th (1985-86) |
281 |
313 |
98th (1983-84) |
266 |
281 |
97th (1981-82) |
303 |
312 |
96th (1979-80) |
326 |
333 |
95th (1977-78) |
323 |
337 |
94th (1975-76) |
311 |
320 |
93rd (1973-74) |
334 |
352 |
92nd (1971-72) |
298 |
348 |
91st (1969-70) |
350 |
384 |
*Source: House Data available on the THOMAS legislative website. Senate Data available by clicking on “Legislative Statistics” on the Senate website. |
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