The Senate is taking more than 5 months off in 2016

In 2016, with a calendar influenced by the presidential election process, U.S. senators will be asked to work just 31 weeks — and the last three months of the year will include only five weeks on the Hill. The House of Representatives, meanwhile, is scheduled to be in session a mere 28 weeks in 2016. In both houses it is unusual for a work week to be a full five days long.

When he became majority leader this past January, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) pledged to whip the upper chamber into shape. "[M]ost people work five days a week," he said, indicating the Senate could expect a more rigorous voting schedule.

To be fair, McConnell has already scheduled more Senate working days than were on the books in 2014, and he is on pace to exceed the 2013 schedule as well. McConnell's leadership has also led to a slight rise in the rate of amendments passed in the Senate this year as compared to last two years' historic level of gridlock under Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up