Joint session of the United States Congress

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

A joint session of the United States Congress is a gathering of members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives. It is not a regular lawmaking meeting; it is usually ceremonial or formal and only happens for special occasions.

Why they are held
- To deliver or count votes during a presidential election, including counting the Electoral College votes.
- To hear the State of the Union address.
- To meet when counting electoral votes after an election or during a presidential inauguration.
- To receive foreign heads of state or other important guests, or for other notable occasions.

Where they meet and who leads
- They typically meet in the Chamber of the House of Representatives at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
- The Speaker of the House usually presides, and the Vice President of the United States serves as the President of the Senate for the counting of electoral votes. The President pro tempore of the Senate may chair in some cases.

Counting electoral votes
- The process is guided by the Twelfth Amendment and the Electoral Count Act of 1887. The Vice President opens the certificates from each state in the presence of both houses, and the votes are counted.
- Each state’s vote is read in order, and two tellers (one from each party) help count.
- Members can object to a state’s votes if at least one-fifth of each chamber supports the objection. If both chambers agree to the objection, that state’s votes can be set aside. Objections are rare and have failed in recent history.

State of the Union and other addresses
- Besides counting votes, a joint session is often used when the President delivers the State of the Union address. In earlier times, presidents sometimes delivered it in person; in some periods it was a written report, but delivering it in person has become the norm again.
- Presidents can also speak to Congress on other topics, and newly elected presidents may address Congress after taking office (this is not a formal State of the Union).

Foreign leaders and other meetings
- Foreign heads of state and government have addressed Congress in joint meetings. The first was in the 19th century, and many leaders have spoken since. The most recent examples include visits by prime ministers and presidents from various countries.
- Joint meetings are sometimes held for other purposes, such as memorials or to hear from military leaders or astronauts. They are relatively rare.

How it differs from a regular session
- A joint session or joint meeting is not a regular legislative session and does not produce laws. It is a formal occasion used for important speeches, ceremonial actions, or the counting of electoral votes.

Members and composition
- Congress has 535 voting members: 100 senators and 435 representatives. There are also non-voting members from certain territories.

Constitutional basis
- The Constitution requires Congress to be informed of the State of the Union, but it does not specify whether the information must come as a speech or a written report. The practice of delivering the speech in person was established over time and reaffirmed in modern presidencies.

In short, a joint session is a special, ceremonial gathering of both houses for important constitutional duties or formal addresses, not ordinary lawmaking.