Congressional Directory for the 106th Congress (1999-2000), October 2000.
[Page 539]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
[[Page 539]]
SPECIAL SESSIONS OF THE SENATE
From 1789 to 1933 presidential and congressional terms began on
March 4, although the Congress generally did not meet until the first
Monday in December. When a new President was to take office, his
predecessor would call the Senate into special session to confirm the
nominations for the Cabinet and other significant posts. Special
sessions also were convened to consider the ratification of treaties.
Incumbent presidents also called special sessions from time to time to
allow Senators to consider vacancies and other executive business.
Special sessions are called by presidential proclamation.
[Except as noted below, all special sessions were convened to consider executive nominations.]
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Congress Year Date of beginning Date of adjournment
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2d..................................... 1791 Friday, March 4............. Friday, March 4.
3d..................................... 1793 Monday, March 4............. Monday, March 4.
4th.................................... 1795 Monday, June 8 \1\......... Friday, June 26.
5th.................................... 1797 Saturday, March 4........... Saturday, March 4.
1798 Tuesday, July 17............ Thursday, July 19.
7th.................................... 1801 Wednesday, March 4.......... Thursday, March 5.
11th.................................... 1809 Saturday, March 4........... Tuesday, March 7.
15th.................................... 1817 Monday, March 4............. Wednesday, March 6.
19th.................................... 1825 Friday, March 4............. Wednesday, March 9.
21st.................................... 1829 Wednesday, March 4.......... Tuesday, March 17.
25th.................................... 1837 Saturday, March 4........... Friday, March 10.
27th.................................... 1841 Thursday, March 4........... Monday, March 15.
29th.................................... 1845 Tuesday, March 4............ Thursday, March 20.
31st.................................... 1849 Monday, March 5............. Friday, March 23.
32d..................................... 1851 Tuesday, March 4............ Thursday, March 13.
33d..................................... 1853 Friday, March 4............. Monday, April 11.
35th.................................... 1857 Wednesday, March 4.......... Saturday, March 14.
1858 Tuesday, June 15............ Wednesday, June 16.
36th.................................... 1859 Friday, March 4............. Thursday, March 10.
1860 Tuesday, June 26 \2\....... Thursday, June 28.
37th.................................... 1861 Monday, March 4............. Thursday, March 28.
38th.................................... 1863 Wednesday, March 4.......... Saturday, March 14.
39th.................................... 1865 Saturday, March 4........... Saturday, March 11.
40th.................................... 1867 Monday, April 1............. Saturday, April 20.
41st.................................... 1869 Monday, April 12............ Thursday, April 22.
42d..................................... 1871 Wednesday, May 10 \3\...... Saturday, May 27.
43d..................................... 1873 Tuesday, March 4............ Wednesday, March 26.
44th.................................... 1875 Friday, March 5............. Wednesday, March 24.
45th.................................... 1877 Monday, March 5............. Saturday, March 17.
47th.................................... 1881 Friday, March 4............. Friday, May 20.
1881 Monday, October 10.......... Saturday, October 29.
49th.................................... 1885 Wednesday, March 4.......... Thursday, April 2.
51st.................................... 1889 Monday, March 4............. Tuesday, April 2.
53d..................................... 1893 Saturday, March 4........... Friday, April 15.
55th.................................... 1897 Thursday, March 4........... Wednesday, March 10.
57th.................................... 1901 Monday, March 4............. Saturday, March 9.
58th.................................... 1903 Thursday, March 5........... Thursday, March 19.
59th.................................... 1905 Saturday, March 4........... Saturday, March 18.
61st.................................... 1909 Thursday, March 4........... Saturday, March 6.
63d..................................... 1913 Tuesday, March 4............ Monday, March 17.
65th.................................... 1917 Monday, March 5............. Friday, March 16.
67th.................................... 1921 Friday, March 4............. Tuesday, March 15.
69th.................................... 1925 Wednesday, March 4.......... Wednesday, March 18.
71st.................................... 1929 Monday, March 4............. Tuesday, March 5.
1930 Monday, July 7 \4\......... Monday, July 21.
73d..................................... 1933 Saturday, March 4........... Monday, March 6.
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\1\ To consider the Jay Treaty. \2\ To consider treaties. \3\ To consider the Washington Treaty.
\4\ To consider the Naval Arms Treaty.