The Constitution specifies that all presidential electoral votes are counted “in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives” with the President of the Senate presiding (Article II, section 1 12th Amendment). The House and Senate also come together in ways important to the President. Beginning with the 80th Congress (1949–1951) the appearance of the President to deliver the Annual Message has been termed the “ State of the Union Address.” Electoral Count and Presidential Inaugurations In 1913, President Woodrow Wilson resurrected delivering the Annual Message in person to a Joint Session of Congress. Beginning with Thomas Jefferson in 1801, Presidents sent the Annual Message in writing to be read by House clerks and Senate secretaries respectively. For the first decade of the national government Presidents appeared in person before a Joint Session of Congress to deliver their annual messages. The Constitution states that the President will “give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient” (Article II, section 3). The Annual Message and the State of the Union Address The Speaker of the House of Representatives usually presides over Joint Sessions and Joint Meetings however, the President of the Senate presides over Joint Sessions where the electoral votes are counted, as required by the Constitution (Article I, section 1 12th Amendment).On January 6, 1941, two Joint Sessions were held the same day: to count the presidential electoral votes and to hear President Franklin Roosevelt deliver his Annual Message to Congress.

Constitution (Article I, section 1 12th Amendment). Joint Sessions typically are reserved to hear an address from the President of the United States or to count presidential electoral votes as specified by the U.S. A Joint Session takes place when the House and Senate adopt a concurrent resolution.This practice became a standard part of foreign leaders’ state visits to the United States after 1945. The purpose of a joint meeting has usually been for Congress to hear an address from an important figure-generally a visiting foreign leader. A Joint Meeting takes place when the House and Senate agree to recess and meet with the other chamber.At present, the distinctions have these features: The parliamentary difference between a Joint Meeting and a Joint Session has evolved over time.

This chart lists those occasions where Congress meets as a single body since the First Congress (1789–1791). Moments of great significance have taken place when the two houses hold such meetings. The two houses of Congress generally work separately, but on occasion the House of Representatives and the Senate gather together.

Joint session of congress