Joint session

A joint session or joint convention is, most broadly, when two normally separate decision-making groups meet, often in a special session or other extraordinary meeting, for a specific purpose. Most often it refers to when both houses of a bicameral legislature sit together. A joint session typically occurs to receive foreign or domestic diplomats or leaders, or to allow both houses to consider bills together. Some constitutions give special power to a joint session, voting by majority of all members of the legislature regardless of which house or chamber they belong to. For example, in Switzerland a joint session of the two houses elects the members of the Federal Council (cabinet). In India, disputes between houses are resolved by a joint sitting but without an intervening election.

A joint session or joint convention is, most broadly, when two normally separate decision-making groups meet, often in a special session or other extraordinary meeting, for a specific purpose. Most often it refers to when both houses of a bicameral legislature sit together. A joint session typically occurs to receive foreign or domestic diplomats or leaders, or to allow both houses to consider bills together. Some constitutions give special power to a joint session, voting by majority of all members of the legislature regardless of which house or chamber they belong to. For example, in Switzerland a joint session of the two houses elects the members of the Federal Council (cabinet). In India, disputes between houses are resolved by a joint sitting but without an intervening election.

Austria

The Federal Assembly is a formal joint session of the two houses of the bicameral Austrian Parliament, to swear the elected President of Austria into office.

Belgium

The Chamber of Representatives and the Senate convene as United Chambers ( ; ; ) to swear the King into office, as stipulated by article 91 of the Constitution.

Germany

The Federal Convention elects the President of Germany. It includes members from the Bundestag and representatives of the States of Germany.

Ireland

Joint sittings of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann, the two houses of the Oireachtas, have been held for ceremonial purposes. Most cases are addresses to the Oireachtas, usually by the President of Ireland under Article 13.7.1° of the Constitution or by a foreign leader on a state visit. In 2017, a joint sitting addressed by Michel Barnier regarding Brexit negotiations was described as an "exchange of views" and proceeded as a committee of the whole. There was a joint sitting in 2019 to mark the centenary of the First Dáil. The Governor-General of the Irish Free State made addresses in 1922 and 1923 akin to the speech from the throne in other Commonwealth Dominions; each was not a joint sitting but rather a sitting of the Free State Dáil with Free State Senators present.

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