Washington ( CNN ) -- Congress returns to Washington on Monday after a monthlong summer break to jump right into debate and votes on a resolution giving President Barack Obama the authorization to strike Syria . How this all will unfold over the coming week is far from certain , but here 's how things could play out : . Monday . • The House and Senate are in session at 2 p.m. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is expected to take the first procedural steps to overcome an anticipated filibuster over whether to officially take up the Syria resolution . Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky , who filibustered John Brennan 's confirmation as CIA director earlier this year to protest Obama 's drone policy , told Fox News on Sunday that he was weighing his options on how to stall the resolution . Rogers : Obama is losing support on Capitol Hill . • Obama will give a preview of his address to the nation when he does a round of interviews with major TV and cable outlets . CNN 's Wolf Blitzer will report on his interview with the president on `` The Situation Room '' at 6 p.m . ET . Zelizer : Obama faces big hurdle convincing public on Syria . • All House members get an intelligence briefing from Secretary of State John Kerry , Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel , National Security Adviser Susan Rice , Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper at 5 p.m . ET . • Rice will also brief members of the Congressional Black Caucus . Tuesday . • Debate expected in the Senate . • Obama goes to Capitol Hill to meet with Senate Democrats on Syria . • Obama takes his case for a strike on Syria to the American people when he addresses the nation at 9 p.m . ET . Democratic Rep says Obama should withdraw request for authorization . Wednesday . • Should opponents filibuster whether to take up the Syria resolution , the first critical vote in the Senate could come today , requiring 60 votes to break the filibuster and move on to debate . If opponents lose the vote , they could still demand an additional 30 hours of debate on whether to take up the resolution . • Kerry , Hagel and other administration officials will brief all members of the Senate . McDonough : This is not Iraq or Afghanistan . After that ? • What follows could be dictated by complicated parliamentary rules , the legislative strategy of supporters and opponents and other unforeseen variables that could influence the timeline of the debate . It 's not clear how long the debate could last , but at some point Reid would move to end it if he thinks he has the necessary 60 votes . That could be the most significant vote of the week , because if it passes , it would send a strong signal that the resolution would ultimately succeed because final passage requires only a 51-vote simple majority . And in the House ? • Republican leaders who control the House have said they will act after the Senate but have been vague on a schedule . It 's unclear whether the House would vote on the language in the Senate resolution or take up its own version . Majority Leader Eric Cantor signaled in a memo to rank-and-file Republicans on Friday that debate could slip beyond next week . `` Members should expect a robust debate and vote on an authorization of use of military force pertaining to Syria in the next two weeks , '' he wrote . Obama has steep hill to climb in the House . But House GOP leaders are leaving open the possibility the House wo n't bring up the resolution if it fails in the Senate . House Speaker John Boehner 's spokesman signaled that the burden for getting enough votes in the House is on Obama . `` Only a president can convince the public that military action is required . We only hope this is n't coming too late to make the difference , '' Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck said in a statement .
National Intelligence James Clapper Majority Leader Harry Reid expected to take steps to avoid anticipated filibuster . Complicated parliamentary rules will dictate how Wednesday plays out . First significant vote could come the week if Reid thinks he has necessary 5 votes .