From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Pro Forma Session / Recess Appointment Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) chairs this 9-second session of the United States Senate on December 26, 2007, to prevent recess appointments by President Bush. Pro Forma Session: From the Latin, meaning “as a matter of form.” A … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Morning Hour / Morning Business The time set-aside at the beginning of each legislative day for the consideration of regular, routine business. The “hour” is of indefinite duration in the House, where a period is set aside at the beginning of the day for members … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Adjourn photo credit: Gaffke Photography v2.8 Adjourn: Formal motion to end a day’s session of a chamber of Congress. A motion to adjourn in the Senate (or a committee) ends that day’s session. Adjournment is not a recess. Because procedures are so strictly determined when … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Recess photo credit: Harpersbizarre Temporary interruption or suspension of a committee or chamber meeting. In the House, the Speaker is authorized to declare recesses. In the Senate, the chamber often recesses rather than adjourns at the end of the day so as not to trigger … Read more
The United States Constitution Article. II. (The Executive Branch) Section. 2. (Civilian Power over Military, Cabinet, Pardon Power, Appointments) The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may … Read more