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Washminster
Washminster
Showing posts with label First day of a new Congress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label First day of a new Congress. Show all posts
I will be posting about this morning's final sessions from the APG Conference later - but, as of now, I am at home in front of two computer screens - awaiting the opening of the 114th Congress.
The New Congress is due to meet at noon (EST) - 5pm here in Milton Keynes. If you wish to watch it live follow the link
According to Section Two of the Twentieth Amendment "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." Originally the date when a new congress began was 4th March. This was the result the Act of the Continental Congress adopted September 13, 1788, which provided ‘that the first Wednesday in March next to be the time for commencing proceedings under the Constitution.’ It happened that the first Wednesday in March 1789 was the 4th day of March. As terms of Senators and Congressmen were measured in years, noon on March 4th marked the end of one term and the start of the next.
For the first 73 Congresses, elections were held on the First Tuesday after the first Monday in November - but terms of the newly elected members did not begin until four months later. This was addressed by the 20th Amendment.
The Senate Committee on the Judiciary in its report suggested several reasons for the proposed Twentieth Amendment. It said in part:
“[W]hen our Constitution was adopted there was some reason for such a long intervention of time between the election and the actual commencement of work by the new Congress. . . . Under present conditions [of communication and transportation] the result of elections is known all over the country within a few hours after the polls close, and the Capital City is within a few days’ travel of the remotest portions of the country. . . ."
“Another effect of the amendment would be to abolish the so– called short session of Congress. . . Every other year, under our Constitution, the terms of Members of the House and one–third of the Members of the Senate expire on the 4th day of March. . . . Experience has shown that this brings about a very undesirable legislative condition. It is a physical impossibility during such a short session for Congress to give attention to much general legislation for the reason that it requires practically all of the time to dispose of the regular appropriation bills. . . . The result is a congested condition that brings about either no legislation or ill considered legislation. . . ."
Public Law 111-289 was signed by the President on 30th November, which appoints today for the convening of the first session of the One Hundred Twelfth Congress.
The last Daily Digest of the Congressional Record for the 111th Congress reads -
Senate Chamber
Program for Wednesday: Following the presentation of the certificates of election and the swearing in of elected members, there will be a required live quorum to convene the 112th Congress. All Senators are asked to report to the floor at that time. The Senate will then be in period of morning business.
appointing the day for the convening of the first session of the One Hundred Twelfth Congress
House Chamber
Program for Wednesday: Convening of the first session of the 112th Congress.
I'll be watching live - with the help of two computers - one showing the House on C-SPAN and the other showing the Senate on C-SPAN2. Events should kick off at 5pm GMT (though I've found that timing in Congress is not as precise as it is in Westminster).
CRS have produced excellent guides to the first day of a new Congress in the House Senate
Thanks to the Huddle, Politico for this tentative schedule for the first day of the new Congress -
12 p.m. The clerk calls the House to order [5pm UK]
12:05 p.m. Quorum call [5-05pm UK]
12:40 p.m. Nominations for speaker will be made [5-40pm UK]
12:45 p.m. Members vote for speaker by alphabetical roll call [5-45 pm UK]
2 p.m. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) presents Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to the House
[7-00 pm UK]
2:25 p.m. Michigan Democrat John Dingell, the dean of the House, administers as Boehner takes the oath of office [7-25 pm UK]
2:40 p.m. The rules of the House for the 112th Congress will be brought to the floor under a privileged resolution [7-40 pm UK]
3:55 p.m. The House votes on the new rules [8-55 pm UK]
4:50 p.m. The House adjourns [9-50 pm UK]
I can send you a pdf of the new rules as they would look if the rule changes proposed by the incoming majority are adopted - email - info@washminster.com
In just over three months a new Congress (the 112th) will come into existence (in the UK the new Parliament mets a few days after it is elected. In 2010 the election was held on 6th May; the first day of meeting was 18th May - and this was regarded as a long interval!).
The Constitution (as amended states that "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." Art I Section 4.2)
In the House of Representatives there are certain things which must be done. The main stages of the day's events in the chamber include
1.The Clerk of 110th Congress calls the House to order
2.The Chaplain of the House offers a prayer
3.Members repeat the pledge of allegiance
4.A Roll Call vote is taken - to establish that a quorum exists. Members vote electronically
5.Certain announcements are made - about delegates; and deaths or resignations of former Members
6.The Speaker is elected - both parties nominate for this (and other posts), but the majority party - the Democrats in 111th Congress - win the viva voce roll call vote. [A 'viva voce' vote involves each member stating his vote after his or her name is read out]
7.The newly elected Speaker is sworn in
8.The Oath of Office is taken collectively by all Members in the Chamber. In the afternoon individual oath taking is repeated for the benefit of photographers.
9.Each party announces its leaders
10.Officers of the House are elected (usually each party has agreed its own list, but the majority party prevails)
11.Resolutions regarding messages between the twn Houses; and also with the Presidency, are passed
12.Rules of Procedure are adopted
Washminster returns after its short break. During the next few months, amongst other things, this blog will enhance its coverage of matters procedural. So to get things off to a start the video below shows the first day of business in the House of Representatives.
A CRS Report explains what happens on the first day.
The key events are
* Election of the Speaker
* Swearing in of Members
* Announcement of Party Leaders
* Election of Officers (non-members)
* Notification to the Senate and to the President
* Adoption of House Rules of Procedure
* Adoption of a Daily Meeting Time for the House
* Committee Organization
* Other announcements are made and resolutions passed
Retired. An experienced lecturer, tutor and researcher with practical experience of working in the UK and European Parliaments.
I have a keen academic and practical interest in the workings of both the UK Parliament and the US Congress.
Over the years I have broadcast on both British and US Politics for BBC local radio stations and presented Platform:MK, Heritage:MK & Heritage Matters on Milton Keynes based Community Radio Stations.
