Congress is
regularly
lampooned for its
frequent
recesses, and with some reason. The House was in session
for only 153
days in 2012, and the Senate
152. And in each case, more than a dozen of those
"legislative days" were in fact
pro forma sessions where no legislative business occurred.
Of course, Members of Congress are not simply vacationing during
these down periods. Most use the time to go home to their
districts and meet with their constituents. This too is an
important part of their responsibilities as public servants.
But the frequent recesses and short work weeks can create confusion
about when, exactly, Congress will be in D.C.
As a general rule, the House and Senate come into session each
week late on Monday and conclude legislative business late on
Thursday. This allows Members from far-flung states to travel
to and from home on weekends. In addition, each chamber
currently has seven extended "state work periods" planned
for 2013:
