WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States House of Representatives convened a pro forma session Thursday morning and adjourned it with such velocity that at least one congressman was left blinking on the House floor, mouth open, mid-breath, holding a resolution he had prepared, printed, and carried to the Capitol during what is technically a two-week Easter recess. The session lasted approximately as long as it takes to say "the House stands adjourned," which is exactly what was said, immediately, by Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, who wielded the gavel with the confidence of a man who had somewhere better to be.
Rep. Glenn Ivey, a Democrat from Maryland, had arrived at the Capitol with colleagues, a resolution, and what witnesses describe as "a whole prepared thing he was going to say." The resolution — aimed at limiting President Trump's authority to continue military operations against Iran — was never introduced, never debated, and never voted upon, on account of the House having immediately ceased to exist as a functioning body approximately four seconds after it began to exist as one.
Procedural experts at the nonpartisan Congressional Research Institute for Things That Technically Happen confirmed that a presiding officer during a pro forma session is under no obligation to recognize other members seeking to speak, call on anyone who has raised their hand, or acknowledge that other human beings are physically present in the room. "The rules allow for this," said one expert, who asked not to be named because they have accepted the situation. "Have they always allowed for this? Yes. Has it always felt like this? No."
"We showed up on the House floor today to do our job and defend Congress's constitutional war powers. Republicans refused to even recognize our resolution."
— Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), on the Capitol steps, approximately ninety seconds after the House adjourned itself
The resolution Ivey attempted to introduce would have required the President to obtain congressional authorization before continuing military operations in Iran — a request that, under the U.S. Constitution, Congress technically already has the authority to make at any time, a fact that has not meaningfully affected the situation. Democrats have now attempted this or a similar resolution multiple times, each effort meeting a fate best described as "also this."
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had urged Speaker Mike Johnson to reconvene Congress immediately to hold a proper vote. Johnson did not reconvene Congress. The House remains on its two-week Easter recess, during which a war is ongoing, a ceasefire is fragile, and at least one congressman is still standing on the Capitol steps holding a piece of paper that has not been read aloud.
Rep. James Walkinshaw of Virginia was heard shouting "End the war, let us vote" in the chamber as the session concluded, making him technically the most productive member of the House on Thursday, having said two complete sentences before the building closed around him. No official response was issued to his remarks, as there was no longer an official body present to issue one.
At press time, the gavel had been secured in its traditional location. Rep. Ivey's resolution remained unread. Monday was still April 13th.