C.1. Numbered Congresses

A numbered Congress is two years in length, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on January 2^nd in odd-numbered years, and running until 12:00 a.m. on January 2^nd of the next odd-numbered year. Each Congress is numbered.

This is a very straightforward provision. It lays out what a numbered Congress is, with a specific duration. The text requires each Congress to be numbered. That makes it possible for historians and the people to know which particular body of citizens voted for this or that law.

Each numbered Congress consists of two annual sessions, each of which follows the legislative year. The legislative year begins at 12:01 a.m. on January 2^nd and runs until 12:00 a.m. January 2^nd of the following year.

This is also very straightforward. It breaks each Congress into two sessions and explains what the legislative year is.

This provision establishes the definition of a Congress, a session, and the legislative year.