United States of America
Structure
Data on parliamentary sessions, parliamentary committees and parliamentary groups.
Sessions
Number of ordinary sessions of parliament per year
Dates of parliamentary sessions
| Parliament is usually in ordinary session | Extraordinary sessions can be held | |
|---|---|---|
| January | x | x |
| February | x | x |
| March | x | x |
| April | x | x |
| May | x | x |
| June | x | x |
| July | x | x |
| August | x | |
| September | x | x |
| October | x | x |
| November | x | x |
| December | x | x |
Number of days parliament met in plenary, per year
Committees
Number of permanent committees
This number does not include sub-committees or joint committees in bicameral parliaments.
Number of permanent joint committees in bicameral parliaments
4
Parliamentary groups
Parliamentary groups are recognized in the parliamentary rules
“Parliamentary groups” are the primary means by which political parties organize themselves in parliament. They may also be known as “party groups”, “caucuses” or “fractions”. They are different from all-party groups on specific issues, or inter-parliamentary friendship groups.
Number of parliamentary groups
Not applicable. There is no minimum number of members to form a parliamentary group
Yes
Notes
typically 1-3 “Independents” each year must caucus with one of the two parties (Democrats/Republicans) in order to have committee assignments
Independent members can jointly form a parliamentary group
No
Several parties can jointly form a parliamentary group
No
Relevant provisions about parliamentary groups in the parliamentary rules of procedure
A matter of tradition; no source is mentioned in the Standing Rules of the Senate (https://www.rules.senate.gov).