During opening session of the Senate, the following activities occur: adopting administrative resolutions, adopting standing orders for the new Congress, swearing in of senators, establishing quorum presence, election of a new President Pro tempore, election of other head offices if there is a vacancy, and unanimously agreeing to a date for the introduction of bills and joint resolutions.
In the House of Representatives: Speaker of the House and other officers are chosen, the chamber’s vote on rules, a call to order and pledge of allegiance is given by the Clerk of the House, the chaplain does a prayer, quorum is called, the Speaker-elect makes a speech, rules of the House are adopted, the Speaker’s policies are announced, and administrative resolutions are adopted with unanimous consent agreements found.
