Convening and adjourning Congress To allow the government to act quickly in case of a major domestic or international crisis arising when Congress is not in session, the president is empowered by Article II, Section3 of the Constitution to call a special session of one or both houses of Congress. Since John Adams first did so in 1797, the president has called the full Congress to convene for a special session on 27 occasions. Harry S. Truman was the most recent to do so in July 1948, known as the Turnip Day Session. In addition, prior to ratification of the Twentieth Amendment in 1933, which brought forward the date on which Congress convenes from December to January, newly inaugurated presidents would routinely call the Senate to meet to confirm nominations or ratify treaties. In practice, the power has fallen into disuse in the modern era as Congress now formally remains in session year-round, convening pro forma sessions every three days even when ostensibly in recess. Correspondingly, the president is authorized to adjourn Congress if the House and Senate cannot agree on the time of adjournment; no president has ever had to exercise this power.
convENiNG ANd ADjOurNIng conGReSs To alloW the governmEnT tO act quICklY in cASe of A maJor doMEsTic or iNternATiOnAl CRisIs arIsInG when CoNgresS is noT In seSsion, the PResidEnt iS eMPowEreD by artIcle iI, SEction3 Of ThE constitutIon to cAlL a sPecIaL seSSioN of one or both hOuseS of congrEss. since john Adams fiRsT Did SO in 1797, tHe presiDent haS cALleD The fuLl cONGreSs to ConVEne fOR A SPeciaL sESsIon On 27 OccasIonS. HArry S. TrUmAn was the moSt reCent to Do sO in JULY 1948, kNOwn As thE TurnIp daY sEsSiOn. iN AdDitioN, PRior TO rAtiFication oF thE tWEntietH amendmeNt in 1933, wHiCH BrOuGht ForWarD THe datE On whicH congress cOnvenes From deCEmber To JANuary, NewLy iNAuguraTed PResideNTs wOuld ROuTINely CAll THE seNAtE To mEet to COnFirM nominations Or ratiFy tReatIes. in Practice, the pOWEr haS falleN intO disuSE in THe mOdeRn ErA As COngrEss nOw forMALly RemaiNS in SeSsioN yeaR-round, COnveniNg pRO FormA SessiOns everY THree days evEN wHEN OstenSIbly in RecESs. coRRESpoNDingly, the pResIdeNT iS aUTHorIzed to aDJouRn congresS iF the hoUse and sEnaTe CAnnot aGrEE oN ThE tIMe of adjouRNment; no prEsiDeNt hAS evEr hAd To exerCisE this poWEr.