WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- In one of the shortest session in its history , the Senate 's final session of the year lasted a total of 12 seconds Monday . Democrats kept the Senate in session over the holiday season . Only one senator , Democrat Jack Reed of Rhode Island , was in the chamber to gavel open the Senate and adjourn it until January 3 . Monday 's event was the latest in a series of `` pro forma '' sessions the Senate has called . Pro forma means `` for the sake of formality '' and these micro sessions are part of the last political scuffle between the White House and the Democratic-led Congress . Democrats are keeping the Senate in session to block President Bush from making any recess appointments . During congressional recesses , a constitutional mechanism allows the president to fill top government posts for up to one year without Senate confirmation . Nearly all the senators left the Capitol for the Christmas holiday nearly a week and a half ago , but only one senator is needed to keep the Senate in session . During the session last week , Sen. Jim Webb , D-Virginia , opened and then immediately gaveled the Senate session to a close . Wednesday 's session lasted for 11 seconds . In all , he spent 57 seconds in the chamber . Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , D-Nevada , announced December 19 that he would keep the Senate open with a series of pro forma sessions through mid-January . Talks had just broken down with the White House on a deal that would have allowed the president to make dozens of those appointments if he agreed not to appoint one controversial official , Steven Bradbury , as the permanent head of the influential Office of Legal Counsel at the Justice Department . Bush declined to accept the Democrats ' offer , and Reid refused to approve Bradbury because of concerns about his involvement in crafting legal opinions for the administration on interrogation techniques of terrorism suspects . Similar sessions were conducted over the Thanksgiving recess . Other Democrats -- including Sens . Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts , Byron Dorgan of North Dakota , Mary Landrieu of Louisiana , Ben Cardin of Maryland and Chuck Schumer of New York -- will share the duty of presiding over the `` pro forma '' sessions next month . E-mail to a friend . CNN 's Lisa DesJardin contributed to this report .
Senate holding `` pro forma '' sessions to block recess appointments . Democrats , President Bush disagree over Justice Department appointment . Only one senator needed to keep Senate in session .