Article II, section 3, of the Constitution grants the President authority to call for an extraordinary, or "special," session of Congress after it has already adjourned [he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them . . . ] However, while the President can force the Congress to meet he cannot force them to act. He can state the reason for his calling them into session and place before them and the nation his request. Congress would still retain the authority as an independent branch of government to act or not act on the President's request, and to transact other business if it so wishes.

Twenty-seven sessions of Congress have been convened by Presidents in the history of Congress. President John Adams was the first President to call the Congress into special session in 1797 over suspending relations with France. The last President to convene Congress was President Harry Truman in 1948, who did so to urge enactment of his domestic legislative agenda expanding New Deal programs. Truman's call for a special session was done in a direct political context -- he issued his intention to do so from the Democratic Convention platform. Congress' failure to pass the domestic bills in that special session led to Truman's 1948 campaign slogan, the "Do-Nothing 80th Congress."

The President's rationale for calling an extraordinary Congress, although subject to public and political scrutiny, is not subject to challenge. President Truman, for example, merely stated that the "public interest requires it."

When the special session of Congress called by the President convenes, it does so on the date and at the time he stipulates in his proclamation. The leaders of both bodies are formally notified. On the designated day, the presiding officer of each chamber calls the body into order "pursuant to the Constitution and to the proclamation of the President of the United States." The Clerk of the chamber will then read the President's proclamation to the assembled Members.

Here are the reasons given by past Presidents for calling Congress into extraordinary session: