Special session
Encyclopedia
In a legislature
, a special session is a period when the body convenes outside of the normal legislative session. This most frequently occurs in order to complete unfinished tasks for the year (often delayed by conflict between political parties
), such as outlining the government
's budget
for the next fiscal year, biennium, or other period. Special sessions may also be called during an economic downturn
in order to cut the budget. In other cases, a special session may be convened to address special topics, or emergencies such as war
or natural disaster
.
Who calls a special session varies - by vote of the legislature during regular session, by the executive
, or by the legislature's speaker
or presiding officer
. The United Nations has both special sessions and emergency special sessions.
gives the President of the United States
the power to "on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses
or either of them." This power exists because emergencies that require congressional attention can occur when Congress is not in session. U.S. Presidents have exercised this power 27 times, most recently by Harry Truman in 1948.
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
, a special session is a period when the body convenes outside of the normal legislative session. This most frequently occurs in order to complete unfinished tasks for the year (often delayed by conflict between political parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
), such as outlining the government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
's budget
Budget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
for the next fiscal year, biennium, or other period. Special sessions may also be called during an economic downturn
Recession
In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction, a general slowdown in economic activity. During recessions, many macroeconomic indicators vary in a similar way...
in order to cut the budget. In other cases, a special session may be convened to address special topics, or emergencies such as war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
or natural disaster
Natural disaster
A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard . It leads to financial, environmental or human losses...
.
Who calls a special session varies - by vote of the legislature during regular session, by the executive
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
, or by the legislature's speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
or presiding officer
Presiding Officer
In a general sense, presiding officer is synonymous with chairman.* The presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives is the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives...
. The United Nations has both special sessions and emergency special sessions.
United States
In the United States of America, Article II Section III of the United States ConstitutionUnited States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
gives the President of the United States
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
the power to "on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
or either of them." This power exists because emergencies that require congressional attention can occur when Congress is not in session. U.S. Presidents have exercised this power 27 times, most recently by Harry Truman in 1948.