PolicyBrief
H.CON.RES. 11
119th CongressFeb 19th 2025
Providing for a joint session of Congress to receive a message from the President.
SENATE PASSED

This bill authorizes a joint session of Congress on March 4, 2025, to receive a formal message from the President.

Pete Stauber
R

Pete Stauber

Representative

MN-8

LEGISLATION

Congress Schedules Joint Session for March 4, 2025, to Receive Presidential Message

This concurrent resolution is a straightforward procedural directive that sets the stage for a major night in D.C. It officially instructs the House of Representatives and the Senate to gather in the Hall of the House on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 9 p.m. The sole purpose of this joint meeting is to receive a formal message from the President.

Clearing the Calendar

While the text is brief, it acts as the formal trigger for the logistics of a joint session. By specifying the exact date and time—March 4th at 9 p.m.—the resolution ensures that both chambers of Congress are physically present in the same room to hear the President’s address. For the average person, this is the administrative "save the date" that precedes the televised event, ensuring that the constitutional tradition of the President communicating with the legislative branch remains structured and orderly.

The Logistics of Leadership

Because this is a procedural move, it doesn't change your taxes or regulate your business, but it does dictate the workflow of your representatives. It mandates that every member of the House and Senate be available at the same time, shifting the focus of the federal government toward this single event. By setting the time for 9 p.m., the resolution follows the modern standard of reaching a prime-time audience, ensuring that the message is accessible to citizens across all time zones after the typical workday has ended.