The Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 included a provision that “except in time of war or during a national emergency,” Congress was to adjourn by the last day in July, but this rarely happened in practice. Adoption of the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution in 1933 moved the start of each session of Congress to January. ![]() Occasionally, extraordinary sessions or the demands of war kept Congress in session longer, but generally senators agreed with Vice President John Nance Garner, who reportedly proclaimed, “No good legislation ever comes out of Washington after June.” 1 By the late 1950s, however, the schedule had changed and workloads had grown. ![]() After months away from Washington, members of Congress would return for a short second session in December that adjourned on March 3. From 1789 until the 1930s, Congress convened for its first regular session in December and typically adjourned in spring or midsummer. In the 1960s, Senator Gale McGee of Wyoming relentlessly worked to convince his colleagues that to modernize the Senate and meet those demands, they would have to take a summer break. Senators’ now-traditional time away from Washington, DC, during the “dog days” of summer can be traced back to the mid-20th century when workloads were growing, legislating was becoming a full-time, yearlong job, and the need to modernize Congress to meet the demands of the 20th century was becoming more evident. ![]() The arrival of August means that the Senate is out of session and in the midst of its annual summer recess. Categories: Traditions | Rules and Procedure
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