Simone Lawson
The United States Congress, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, is the legislative branch of the federal government. According to Article I of the US Constitution, Congress must assemble at least once per year, with the meeting taking place on the first Monday in December unless a different day is appointed by law. The Constitution also grants Congress the authority to enact legislation, declare war, confirm or reject presidential appointments, and conduct investigations. The House of Representatives is made up of members chosen every two years by the people of the states, while the Senate consists of 100 senators, two from each state, who are elected to six-year terms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency of meetings | The US Constitution states that Congress must meet at least once a year. |
| Meeting date | The meeting date is usually the first Monday in December, unless another day is appointed by law. |
| Exceptions | Governors can call special sessions if more time is needed. |
| Biennial legislatures | Texas, Montana, Nevada, and North Dakota are the only states with biennial legislatures, convening in odd-numbered years. |
| Session length | Session length varies among states. For example, Alabama limits regular sessions to 30 meeting days within 105 calendar days, while Texas's shortest session lasted 61 days and the longest 177. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Congress must meet at least once a year
The US Constitution outlines the rules and procedures for the legislative process. The Constitution requires Congress to assemble at least once a year, with the default date for this meeting being the first Monday in December. However, Congress has the power to appoint a different day if needed.
The Constitution also allows for flexibility in the frequency of meetings, with the option to call special sessions if more time is required to address urgent matters. This provision ensures that legislative business can continue even if one house is not in session. For example, the governor of a state can call a special session to address pressing issues, such as in the case of Texas, where Governor Greg Abbott convened a special session to handle legislation essential for keeping several state agencies operational.
The two-year terms of Congress are divided into two sessions, one for each year. The new session typically commences on January 3rd, marking the start of legislative business for the year. This date is not set in stone, as Congress can choose to begin on another day if necessary.
While the Constitution mandates an annual meeting, the length of regular sessions can vary. Some states, like Texas, have longer legislative sessions due to the challenge of coordinating the schedules of a large number of legislators. In contrast, other states, like Alabama, limit the number of meeting days within a specified calendar period.
Equality in the Constitution: A Search for the Word
You may want to see also
State legislatures meet annually or biennially
In the United States, the state legislature is the legislative branch in each of the 50 states. The lawmaking process begins with the introduction of a bill in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. Generally, the same system of checks and balances that exists at the federal level also exists between the state legislature, the state executive officer (governor), and the state judiciary.
In contrast, legislative sessions in California, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, and Wisconsin last eight months or longer each year. That said, state legislatures with lengthy annual sessions do not necessarily meet more than states with biennial sessions. For example, the full Wisconsin Legislature met 34 times during the 2011-2012 legislative session, even though the session spanned 12 months.
Additionally, privately funded organizations with ideological leanings have annual meetings attracting many legislators, including the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the State Innovation Exchange (SIX).
Vaccine Mandates: Unconstitutional Violation of Bodily Autonomy
You may want to see also
Texas meets biennially due to historical reasons
The US Constitution states that Congress must assemble at least once per year, on the first Monday in December, unless a different day is appointed by law. However, it does not specify how often individual state legislatures should meet.
Texas is one of only four states with biennial legislatures, the others being Montana, Nevada, and North Dakota. The Texas Legislature has met biennially since it was established in 1845. The First Legislature was in February 1846 and lasted 87 days, with the Second Legislature taking place in 1847. From 1846 to 1960, regular sessions varied in length, with the shortest being 61 days and the longest 177.
Texas meets biennially primarily due to historical reasons. In the mid-19th century, the vast size of Texas made it difficult for legislators from across the state to gather in one place. The only ways to travel were on foot or by horse, which was dangerous due to the risk of being robbed or attacked by Wild West bandits. As a result, the decision was made to meet every two years.
Meeting biennially also has several advantages for lawmakers. It gives them more time to create and sustain relationships with their constituents, campaign for re-election, and use interim commissions to study proposed legislation. Biennial meetings can also act as a safeguard against unnecessary or knee-jerk legislation. However, it may hinder the state's ability to respond quickly to new federal laws or make timely policies if legislation is needed during the interim.
App-solutely Understanding the Constitution
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$11.45
Alabama meets annually, except during election years
The US Constitution states 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 Alabama Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the US state of Alabama. It is composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate. It is one of the few state legislatures where members of both chambers serve four-year terms and are elected in the same cycle. The Alabama Legislature meets annually, except during election years. The legislative session is limited to 30 meeting days within a period of 105 calendar days. The Alabama Legislature convenes in regular annual sessions on the first Tuesday in February, except during the first year of the four-year term, when the session begins on the first Tuesday in March. In the last year of a four-year term, the legislative session begins on the second Tuesday in January.
The Alabama Legislature has a Legislative Council, which is a permanent or continuing interim committee. The Legislative Council meets at least once a quarter to consider problems that may require legislation and to make recommendations for the next legislative session. The Alabama Legislature has the power to override a veto with a simple majority vote in both houses, which is unique among state legislatures.
The Alabama Legislature was founded in 1818 as a territorial legislature for the Alabama Territory. Following the Confederacy's defeat in 1865, the state government underwent a transformation, including the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and constitutional amendments to grant them citizenship and voting rights. For the first time, African Americans could vote and be elected to the legislature. In the 2010 elections, Republicans gained control of both chambers for the first time since 1874.
The Right to Bear Arms: Felons and Gun Control
You may want to see also
California meets annually, with special sessions
The US Constitution states that Congress must assemble at least once a year, on the first Monday in December, unless a different day is appointed by law. The Constitution gives governors the power to call special sessions as required.
California's Legislature meets biennially, with each two-year session considered a "regular session". The California Constitution prescribes that the regular session shall begin on the first Monday in December of every even-numbered year, following the November election, and end on November 30 two years later. New legislators convene each new two-year session in the Assembly and Senate chambers. After the organizational meeting, both houses recess until the first Monday in January, unless the first Monday falls on January 1 or the preceding Sunday, in which case they meet the following Wednesday. Aside from this recess, the Legislature is in session year-round.
The Legislature can also meet in special sessions called by the Governor. These may run concurrently with the Legislature's normally scheduled meetings or during its recesses, and the Legislature may have to temporarily recess its regular session to convene in the special session. During a special session, the Legislature may only act on subjects specified in the Governor's proclamation. The effective dates for bills enacted during a special session differ from those for a regular session.
California's legislative process involves four basic stages for a bill to become a law. Each bill passed by the Legislature and approved by the Governor becomes a statute, typically taking effect on January 1 of the following year. The Governor has 12 days to consider legislation, and any bill not vetoed or returned within this period becomes a statute without the Governor's signature. At the end of each year of the legislative session, the Governor has 30 days to consider bills passed by the adjournment deadline. Bills signed by the Governor become law on January 1 of the following year, unless they are acts calling for elections or urgency measures, in which case they take effect immediately upon the Governor's signature.
A Historical Overview of Cabinet Departments: Order of Creation
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Congress has two-year terms with one session per year. A new session usually commences each year on January 3, unless Congress chooses another date.
Forty-six state legislatures hold regular sessions annually. The other four states—Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas—meet in odd-numbered years.
The Texas Legislature meets every two years. The first Legislature was in February 1846, and regular sessions have been held in odd years since.
The Alabama Legislature convenes in regular annual sessions on the first Tuesday in February, except during the first year of the four-year term when the session begins on the first Tuesday in March.
The California State Legislature meets in regular session on the first Monday of December in each even-numbered year and adjourns by November 30 of the following even-numbered year.
