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Dates of Sessions of the Congress


Prior to the 74th Congress (1935-1937), the first session of a Congress officially began on March 4 of odd-numbered years and ended at midnight on March 3 of odd-numbered years. Since 1935, in accordance with the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, Congresses have begun and ended at noon on January 3 of odd-numbered years. Each two-year Congress typically includes two legislative sessions, although third or special sessions were common in earlier years. Listed here are convening and adjournment dates for legislative sessions in each Congress.

CongressSessionBegin DateAdjourn Date
1182
1
Jan 3, 2024
Jan 3, 2023

Jan 3, 2024
1172
1
Jan 3, 2022
Jan 3, 2021
Jan 3, 2023
Jan 3, 20221
1162
1
Jan 3, 2020
Jan 3, 2019
Jan 3, 2021
Jan 3, 2020
1152
1
Jan 3, 2018
Jan 3, 2017
Jan 3, 2019
Jan 3, 2018
1142
1
Jan 4, 2016
Jan 6, 2015
Jan 3, 2017
Dec 18, 2015
1132
1
Jan 3, 2014
Jan 3, 2013
Dec 16, 20142
Jan 3, 2014
1122
1
Jan 3, 2012
Jan 5, 2011
Jan 3, 20133
Jan 3, 2012
1112
1
Jan 5, 2010
Jan 6, 2009
Dec 22, 2010
Dec 24, 20094
1102
1
Jan 3, 2008
Jan 4, 2007
Jan 3, 20096
Dec 31, 20075
1092
1
Jan 3, 2006
Jan 4, 2005
Dec 9, 20067
Dec 22, 2005
1082
1
Jan 20, 2004
Jan 7, 2003
Dec 8, 2004
Dec 9, 2003
1072
1
Jan 23, 2002
Jan 3, 2001
Nov 22, 2002
Dec 20, 2001
1062
1
Jan 24, 2000
Jan 6, 1999
Dec 15, 2000
Nov 22, 19998
1052
1
Jan 27, 1998
Jan 7, 1997
Dec 19, 19989
Nov 13, 1997
1042
1
Jan 3, 1996
Jan 4, 1995
Oct 4, 199610
Jan 3, 1996
1032
1
Jan 25, 1994
Jan 5, 1993
Dec 1, 1994
Nov 26, 1993
1022
1
Jan 3, 1992
Jan 3, 1991
Oct 9, 1992
Jan 3, 1992
1012
1
Jan 23, 1990
Jan 3, 1989
Oct 28, 199011
Nov 22, 1989
1002
1
Jan 25, 1988
Jan 6, 1987
Oct 22, 1988
Dec 22, 1987
992
1
Jan 21, 1986
Jan 3, 1985
Oct 18, 1986
Dec 20, 1985
982
1
Jan 23, 1984
Jan 3, 1983
Oct 12, 1984
Nov 18, 1983
972
1
Jan 25, 1982
Jan 5, 1981
Dec 23, 1982
Dec 16, 1981
962
1
Jan 3, 1980
Jan 15, 1979
Dec 16, 1980
Jan 3, 198012
952
1
Jan 19, 1978
Jan 4, 1977
Oct 15, 1978
Dec 15, 1977
942
1
Jan 19, 1976
Jan 14, 1975
Oct 1, 1976
Dec 19, 1975
932
1
Jan 21, 1974
Jan 3, 1973
Dec 20, 1974
Dec 22, 1973
922
1
Jan 18, 1972
Jan 21, 1971
Oct 18, 1972
Dec 17, 1971
912
1
Jan 19, 1970
Jan 3, 1969
Jan 2, 1971
Dec 23, 1969
902
1
Jan 15, 1968
Jan 10, 1967
Oct 14, 1968
Dec 15, 1967
892
1
Jan 10, 1966
Jan 4, 1965
Oct 22, 1966
Oct 23, 1965
882
1
Jan 7, 1964
Jan 9, 1963
Oct 3, 1964
Dec 30, 1963
872
1
Jan 10, 1962
Jan 3, 1961
Oct 13, 1962
Sep 27, 1961
862
1
Jan 6, 1960
Jan 7, 1959
Sep 1, 1960
Sep 15, 1959
852
1
Jan 7, 1958
Jan 3, 1957
Aug 24, 1958
Aug 30, 1957
842
1
Jan 3, 1956
Jan 5, 1955
Jul 27, 1956
Aug 2, 1955
832
1
Jan 6, 1954
Jan 3, 1953
Dec 2, 195413
Aug 3, 1953
822
1
Jan 8, 1952
Jan 3, 1951
Jul 7, 1952
Oct 20, 1951
812
1
Jan 3, 1950
Jan 3, 1949
Jan 2, 1951
Oct 19, 1949
802
1
Jan 6, 1948
Jan 3, 1947
Dec 31, 1948
Dec 19, 1947
792
1
Jan 14, 1946
Jan 3, 1945
Aug 2, 1946
Dec 21, 1945
782
1
Jan 10, 1944
Jan 6, 1943
Dec 19, 1944
Dec 21, 1943
772
1
Jan 5, 1942
Jan 3, 1941
Dec 16, 1942
Jan 2, 1942
763
2
1
Jan 3, 1940
Sep 21, 1939
Jan 3, 1939
Jan 3, 1941
Nov 3, 1939
Aug 5, 1939
753
2
1
Jan 3, 1938
Nov 15, 1937
Jan 5, 1937
Jun 16, 1938
Dec 21, 1937
Aug 21, 1937
742
1
Jan 3, 1936
Jan 3, 1935
Jun 20, 1936
Aug 26, 1935
732
1
S
Jan 3, 1934
Mar 9, 1933
Mar 4, 1933
Jun 18, 1934
Jun 15, 1933
Mar 6, 1933
722
1
Dec 5, 1932
Dec 7, 1931
Mar 3, 1933
Jul 16, 1932
713
S
2
1
S
Dec 1, 1930
Jul 7, 1930
Dec 2, 1929
Apr 15, 1929
Mar 4, 1929
Mar 3, 1931
Jul 21, 1930
Jul 3, 1930
Nov 22, 1929
Mar 5, 1929
702
1
Dec 3, 1928
Dec 5, 1927
Mar 3, 1929
May 29, 1928
692
1
S
Dec 6, 1926
Dec 7, 1925
Mar 4, 1925
Mar 4, 1927
Jul 3, 1926
Mar 18, 1925
682
1
Dec 1, 1924
Dec 3, 1923
Mar 3, 1925
Jun 7, 1924
674
3
2
1
S
Dec 4, 1922
Nov 20, 1922
Dec 5, 1921
Apr 11, 1921
Mar 4, 1921
Mar 3, 1923
Dec 4, 1922
Sep 22, 1922
Nov 23, 1921
Mar 15, 1921
663
2
1
Dec 6, 1920
Dec 1, 1919
May 19, 1919
Mar 3, 1921
Jun 5, 1920
Nov 19, 1919
653
2
1
S
Dec 2, 1918
Dec 3, 1917
Apr 2, 1917
Mar 5, 1917
Mar 3, 1919
Nov 21, 1918
Oct 6, 1917
Mar 16, 1917
642
1
Dec 4, 1916
Dec 6, 1915
Mar 3, 1917
Sep 8, 1916
633
2
1
S
Dec 7, 1914
Dec 1, 1913
Apr 7, 1913
Mar 4, 1913
Mar 3, 1915
Oct 24, 1914
Dec 1, 1913
Mar 17, 1913
623
2
1
Dec 2, 1912
Dec 4, 1911
Apr 4, 1911
Mar 3, 1913
Aug 26, 1912
Aug 22, 1911
613
2
1
S
Dec 5, 1910
Dec 6, 1909
Mar 15, 1909
Mar 4, 1909
Mar 3, 1911
Jun 25, 1910
Aug 5, 1909
Mar 6, 1909
602
1
Dec 7, 1908
Dec 2, 1907
Mar 3, 1909
May 30, 1908
592
1
S
Dec 3, 1906
Dec 4, 1905
Mar 4, 1905
Mar 3, 1907
Jun 30, 1906
Mar 18, 1905
583
2
1
S
Dec 5, 1904
Dec 7, 1903
Nov 9, 1903
Mar 5, 1903
Mar 3, 1905
Apr 28, 1904
Dec 7, 1903
Mar 19, 1903
572
1
S
Dec 1, 1902
Dec 2, 1901
Mar 4, 1901
Mar 3, 1903
Jul 1, 1902
Mar 9, 1901
562
1
Dec 3, 1900
Dec 4, 1899
Mar 3, 1901
Jun 7, 1900
553
2
1
S
Dec 5, 1898
Dec 6, 1897
Mar 15, 1897
Mar 4, 1897
Mar 3, 1899
Jul 8, 1898
Jul 24, 1897
Mar 10, 1897
542
1
Dec 7, 1896
Dec 2, 1895
Mar 3, 1897
Jun 11, 1896
533
2
1
S
Dec 3, 1894
Dec 4, 1893
Aug 7, 1893
Mar 4, 1893
Mar 3, 1895
Aug 28, 1894
Nov 3, 1893
Apr 15, 1893
522
1
Dec 5, 1892
Dec 7, 1891
Mar 3, 1893
Aug 5, 1892
512
1
S
Dec 1, 1890
Dec 2, 1889
Mar 4, 1889
Mar 3, 1891
Oct 1, 1890
Apr 2, 1889
502
1
Dec 3, 1888
Dec 5, 1887
Mar 3, 1889
Oct 20, 1888
492
1
S
Dec 6, 1886
Dec 7, 1885
Mar 4, 1885
Mar 3, 1887
Aug 5, 1886
Apr 2, 1885
482
1
Dec 1, 1884
Dec 3, 1883
Mar 3, 1885
Jul 7, 1884
472
1
S
S
Dec 4, 1882
Dec 5, 1881
Oct 10, 1881
Mar 4, 1881
Mar 3, 1883
Aug 8, 1882
Oct 29, 1881
May 20, 1881
463
2
1
Dec 6, 1880
Dec 1, 1879
Mar 18, 1879
Mar 3, 1881
Jun 16, 1880
Jul 1, 1879
453
2
1
S
Dec 2, 1878
Dec 3, 1877
Oct 15, 1877
Mar 5, 1877
Mar 3, 1879
Jun 20, 1878
Dec 3, 1877
Mar 17, 1877
442
1
S
Dec 4, 1876
Dec 6, 1875
Mar 5, 1875
Mar 3, 1877
Aug 15, 1876
Mar 24, 1875
432
1
S
Dec 7, 1874
Dec 1, 1873
Mar 4, 1873
Mar 3, 1875
Jun 23, 1874
Mar 26, 1873
423
2
S
1
Dec 2, 1872
Dec 4, 1871
May 10, 1871
Mar 4, 1871
Mar 3, 1873
Jun 10, 1872
May 27, 1871
Apr 20, 1871
413
2
S
1
Dec 5, 1870
Dec 6, 1869
Apr 12, 1869
Mar 4, 1869
Mar 3, 1871
Jul 15, 1870
Apr 22, 1869
Apr 10, 1869
403
2
S
1
Dec 7, 1868
Dec 2, 1867
Apr 1, 1867
Mar 4, 1867
Mar 3, 1869
Nov 10, 1868
Apr 20, 1867
Dec 1, 1867
392
1
S
Dec 3, 1866
Dec 4, 1865
Mar 4, 1865
Mar 3, 1867
Jul 28, 1866
Mar 11, 1865
382
1
S
Dec 5, 1864
Dec 7, 1863
Mar 4, 1863
Mar 3, 1865
Jul 4, 1864
Mar 14, 1863
373
2
1
S
Dec 1, 1862
Dec 2, 1861
Jul 4, 1861
Mar 4, 1861
Mar 3, 1863
Jul 17, 1862
Aug 6, 1861
Mar 28, 1861
362
S
1
S
Dec 3, 1860
Jun 26, 1860
Dec 5, 1859
Mar 4, 1859
Mar 3, 1861
Jun 28, 1860
Jun 25, 1860
Mar 10, 1859
352
S
1
S
Dec 6, 1858
Jun 15, 1858
Dec 7, 1857
Mar 4, 1857
Mar 3, 1859
Jun 16, 1858
Jun 14, 1858
Mar 14, 1857
343
2
1
Dec 1, 1856
Aug 21, 1856
Dec 3, 1855
Mar 3, 1857
Aug 30, 1856
Aug 18, 1856
332
1
S
Dec 4, 1854
Dec 5, 1853
Mar 4, 1853
Mar 3, 1855
Aug 7, 1854
Apr 11, 1853
322
1
S
Dec 6, 1852
Dec 1, 1851
Mar 4, 1851
Mar 3, 1853
Aug 31, 1852
Mar 13, 1851
312
1
S
Dec 2, 1850
Dec 3, 1849
Mar 5, 1849
Mar 3, 1851
Sep 30, 1850
Mar 23, 1849
302
1
Dec 4, 1848
Dec 6, 1847
Mar 3, 1849
Aug 14, 1848
292
1
S
Dec 7, 1846
Dec 1, 1845
Mar 4, 1845
Mar 3, 1847
Aug 10, 1846
Mar 20, 1845
282
1
Dec 2, 1844
Dec 4, 1843
Mar 3, 1845
Jun 17, 1844
273
2
1
S
Dec 5, 1842
Dec 6, 1841
May 31, 1841
Mar 4, 1841
Mar 3, 1843
Aug 31, 1842
Sep 13, 1841
Mar 15, 1841
262
1
Dec 7, 1840
Dec 2, 1839
Mar 3, 1841
Jul 21, 1840
253
2
1
S
Dec 3, 1838
Dec 4, 1837
Sep 4, 1837
Mar 4, 1837
Mar 3, 1839
Jul 9, 1838
Oct 16, 1837
Mar 10, 1837
242
1
Dec 5, 1836
Dec 7, 1835
Mar 3, 1837
Jul 4, 1836
232
1
Dec 1, 1834
Dec 2, 1833
Mar 3, 1835
Jun 30, 1834
222
1
Dec 3, 1832
Dec 5, 1831
Mar 2, 1833
Jul 16, 1832
212
1
S
Dec 6, 1830
Dec 7, 1829
Mar 4, 1829
Mar 3, 1831
May 31, 1830
Mar 17, 1829
202
1
Dec 1, 1828
Dec 3, 1827
Mar 3, 1829
May 26, 1828
192
1
S
Dec 4, 1826
Dec 5, 1825
Mar 4, 1825
Mar 3, 1827
May 22, 1826
Mar 9, 1825
182
1
Dec 6, 1824
Dec 1, 1823
Mar 3, 1825
May 27, 1824
172
1
Dec 2, 1822
Dec 3, 1821
Mar 3, 1823
May 8, 1822
162
1
Nov 13, 1820
Dec 6, 1819
Mar 3, 1821
May 15, 1820
152
1
S
Nov 16, 1818
Dec 1, 1817
Mar 4, 1817
Mar 3, 1819
Apr 20, 1818
Mar 6, 1817
142
1
Dec 2, 1816
Dec 4, 1815
Mar 3, 1817
Apr 30, 1816
133
2
1
Sep 19, 1814
Dec 6, 1813
May 24, 1813
Mar 3, 1815
Apr 18, 1814
Aug 2, 1813
122
1
Nov 2, 1812
Nov 4, 1811
Mar 3, 1813
Jul 6, 1812
113
2
1
S
Dec 3, 1810
Nov 27, 1809
May 22, 1809
Mar 4, 1809
Mar 3, 1811
May 1, 1810
Jun 28, 1809
Mar 7, 1809
102
1
Nov 7, 1808
Oct 26, 1807
Mar 3, 1809
Apr 25, 1808
92
1
Dec 1, 1806
Dec 2, 1805
Mar 3, 1807
Apr 21, 1806
82
1
Nov 5, 1804
Oct 17, 1803
Mar 3, 1805
Mar 27, 1804
72
1
S
Dec 6, 1802
Dec 7, 1801
Mar 4, 1801
Mar 3, 1803
May 3, 1802
Mar 5, 1801
62
1
Nov 17, 1800
Dec 2, 1799
Mar 3, 1801
May 14, 1800
53
2
S
1
S
Dec 3, 1798
Nov 13, 1797
Jul 17, 1798
May 15, 1797
Mar 4, 1797
Mar 3, 1799
Jul 16, 1798
Jul 19, 1798
Jul 10, 1797
Mar 4, 1797
42
1
S
Dec 5, 1796
Dec 7, 1795
Jun 8, 1795
Mar 3, 1797
Jun 1, 1796
Jun 26, 1795
32
1
S
Nov 3, 1794
Dec 2, 1793
Mar 4, 1793
Mar 3, 1795
Jun 9, 1794
Mar 4, 1793
22
1
S
Nov 5, 1792
Oct 24, 1791
Mar 4, 1791
Mar 2, 1793
May 8, 1792
Mar 4, 1791
13
2
1
Dec 6, 1790
Jan 4, 1790
Mar 4, 1789
Mar 3, 1791
Aug 12, 1790
Sep 29, 1789

1Senate adjourned Dec 30, 2021
2House adjourned Jan 2, 2015
3Senate adjourned Jan 2, 2013
4House adjourned Dec 23, 2009
6House adjourned sine die Dec 19, 2007
5Senate adjourned sine die January 2, 2009
7Senate adjourned 4:39 a.m. Dec 9; House adjourned 3:17 a.m. Dec 9
8Senate adjourned sine die Nov 19, 1999
9Senate adjourned sine die Oct 21, 1998
10Senate adjourned sine die Oct 3, 1996
11Senate adjourned 2:17 a.m. Oct 28
12Senate adjourned sine die Dec 20, 1979
13House adjourned sine die Aug 20, 1954

The Sessions of Congress web page provides additional information about congressional sessions.