Under the U.S. Constitution, each chamber of Congress periodically holds brief pro forma sessions every few days to ensure continuity of operations even when no formal legislative business is conducted, and pro forma sessions can be used for brief speeches or to introduce legislation.
October 10, 2025
high
procedural
Explains the constitutional practice and typical uses of pro forma sessions in Congress.
Pro forma sessions of the U.S. House of Representatives are brief meetings during which no substantive legislative business is conducted and typically include only a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
October 08, 2025
high
procedural
Pro forma sessions are used to convene the House briefly without allowing for floor business such as votes or swearing-in ceremonies.
The U.S. House of Representatives may conduct pro forma sessions every few days instead of holding full legislative sessions.
high
temporal
Pro forma sessions are short, formal meetings the House can use to satisfy constitutional or procedural requirements while not conducting regular legislative business.
Under the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. House of Representatives must periodically hold brief pro forma sessions every few days to maintain continuity of the chamber even when formal legislative business is not conducted.
high
procedural
Constitutional practice governing continuity of congressional operations.