Session

The time during which a legislative body, a court, or other assembly sits for the transaction of business; as, a session of congress, which commences on the day appointed by the constitution, and ends when congress finally adjourns before the commencement of the next session; the session of a court, which commences at the day appointed by law, and ends when the court finally rises. A term.

The time during which a legislative body, a court, or other assembly, sits for the transaction of business: as, a session of congress, which commences on the day appointed by the constitution, and ends when congress finally adjourns before the commencement of next session; the session of a court which commences at the day appointed by law, and ends when the court finally rises. Cited in People v. Auditor of Public Accounts, 64 111. 86; Ralls v. VVyand, 138 Pac. 158, 12 Okl. L. J. 265. A term.

The sitting of a court, legislature, council, commission, etc., for the transaction of its proper business. Hence, the period of time, within any one day, during which such body is assembled in form, and engaged in the transaction of business, or, in a more extended sense, the whole space of time from Its first assembling to its prorogation or adjournment sine die. Synonyms. Strictly speaking, the word "session," as applied to a court of justice, ia not synonymous with the word "term." The "session" of a court is the time during which it actually sits for the transaction of judicial business, and hence terminates each day with the rising of the court. A "term" of court is the period fixed by law, usually embracing many days or weeks, during which it shall be open for the transaction of judicial business and during which it may hold sessions from day to day. But this distinction is not always observed, many authorities using the two words interchangeably. See Lipari v. State, 19 Tex. App. 433; Stefani v. State, 124 Ind. 8, 24 N. E. 254; Mansfield v. Mufual Ben. L. Ins. Co.., 63 Conn. 579, 29 Atl. 137; Heim v. Brammer, 145 Ind. 605, 44 N. E. 638; Cresap v. Cresap, 54 W. Va. 581, 46 S. E. 582; 1J. S. v. Dietrich (C. Ct) 126 Fed. 660.

— Court of session. The supreme civil court of Scotland, instituted A. D. 1532, consisting of thirteen (formerly fifteen) judges, via., the lord president, the lord justice clerk, and eleven ordinary lords.

— General sessions. A. court of record, in England, held by two or more justices of the peace, for the execution of the authority given them by the commission of the peace and certain stafutes. General sessions held at certain times in the four quarters of the year pursuant to St. 2 Hen. V. are properly called "quarter sessions," (q. v.,) bat intermediate general sessions may also be held. Sweet.

— Great session of Wales. A court which was abolished by St. 1 Wm. IV. c. 70. The proceedings now issue out of the courts at Westminster, and two of the judges of the superior couris hold the circuits in Wales and Cheshire, as in other English counties. Wharton.

— Joint session. In parliamentary practice, a meeting together and commingling of the two houses of a legislative body, sitting and acting together as one bsdy, instead of separately in their respective houses. Snow v. Hudson, 56 Kan. 378, 43 Pac. 262.

— Petty sessions. In English law. A special or petty session la sometimes kept in corporations and counties at large by a few justices, for dispatching smaller business in the neighborhood between the times of the general sessions; as for licensing alehouses, passing the accounts of the parish officers, etc.. Brown.

— Quarter sessions. See that title.

— Regular session. An ordinary, general, or stated session, (as of a legislative body,) as distinguished from a special or extra session.

— Session laws. The name commonly given to the bsdy of laws enacted by a state legislafure at one of its annual or biennia] sessions. So called to distinguish them from the "compiled laws" or "revised statutes" of the state.

— Session of the peace, in English law. a sitting of justices of the peace for the exercise of their .powers. There are four kinds,

— Petty, special, quarter, and general sessions.

— Sessional orders. Certain resolutions which are agreed to by bath houses at the commencement of every session of the English parliament, and have relation to the business and convenience thereof ; but they are not intended to continue in force beyond the session in which they are adopted. They are principally of use as directing the order of business. Brown.

— Sessions. A sitting of justices in court upon their commission, or by virtue of their appointment, and most commonly for the trial of criminni cases. The title of several courts in England and the United States, chiefly those of criminal jurisdiction. Burrill.

— Special sessions. In English law. , A meeting of two or more justices of the peace held for a special purpose, (such as the licensing of alehouses,) either as required by statute or when specially convoked, which can only be convened after notice to all the other magistrates of the division, to give them an opportunity of attending. Stone, J. Pr. 52, 55.

The sitting of a court; the time during which a court is held.

In Scots law. Session, Court of: the supreme civil court of Scotland.

Court of. The supreme civil court of Scotland, v. Court, 94. Sessions: v. Court, 27, 28, 40, 112.

A sitting; sometimes used for the time during which any body of persons or tribunal is organized, competent for transaction of its business; in other connections, the time during which it is convened and actually engaged in business. To illustrate this double use of the term, it is common to speak of the first or the second session of a congress, meaning the whole time from the first Monday of December to the adjournment, on the fourth of March, or later; and equally common to say, in the holidays' recess, that congress is not in session. There is a similar ambiguity in the use of the word with respect to parliament. As used to express the period during which the tribunal is organized and competent for transaction of business, the double meaning of session is less noticeable. It generally imports an actual sitting, but not necessarily; it may be used as equivalent to term. Brown mentions the following kinds of sessions, as often mentioned in English practice: Session of parliament; this signifies merely the sitting of parliament, in order to transact the business of the state. The great session of Wales; this was a session or court held in Wales twice in every year, similar to assises in England. These sessions, however, were abolished by Stat. 1 Wm. IV. ch. 70; and the judges now go the circuits in Wales and Cheshire the same as in the English counties. Session of jail delivery; this was a sitting or term held for delivering a jail of the prisoners therein confined. Session of the peace; this is a court of record, and is held before two or more justices of the peace, one of whom must be of the quorum; and its jurisdiction (by Stat. 34 Edw. III. ch. 1) extended to the trying and determining all felonies and trespasses whatsoever, although they seldom, if ever, try any greater offence than small felonies. There are, moreover, three different kinds of sessions, held by justices of the peace; General sessions, which may be held at any time of the year, for the general execution of the authority of the justices; the general quarter sessions, which are held at four stated times in the year; and a special or petty sessions, which may be holden on any special occasion for the execution of some particular branch of the authority of the justices. As to any court of session, see Court of Session. Sessional orders. These are certain resolutions which are agreed to by both houses, at the commencement of every session of parliament, and have relation to the business and convenience thereof; but they are not intended to continue in force beyond the session in which they are adopted. They are principally of use as directing the order of business. Brown.

The time during which a legislative body, a court or other assembly sit for the transaction of business; as,a session of congress, — which commences on the ‘day appointed by the constitution, and ends when congress finally adjourn before the commencement of the next session; the session of a court which commences at the day appointed by law, and ends when the court finally rise; a term.