Legal Definitions - biennial session

A biennial session refers to a period during which a legislative body, such as a state legislature or a council, formally convenes to conduct its business, debate laws, and make decisions, but does so only once every two years.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: State Legislature

  Imagine a U.S. state where the state legislature is constitutionally mandated to meet for its regular legislative session only in odd-numbered years, such as 2023, 2025, and so on. During these sessions, they consider new laws, approve the state budget, and address other governmental matters. In even-numbered years, they do not hold a regular session, though special sessions might be called under extraordinary circumstances.

  This illustrates a biennial session because the legislature convenes its primary, regularly scheduled business period once every two years, specifically in the odd-numbered years.

• Example 2: International Conference

  Consider an international environmental policy conference that brings together delegates from various countries to discuss global climate change initiatives. The organizers have decided that to allow sufficient time for research, policy development, and implementation of previous recommendations, the conference will be held every two years. For instance, the conference might meet in October 2024, then again in October 2026, and so forth.

  This demonstrates a biennial session because the formal gathering of delegates to conduct their specific business (discussing and setting environmental policy) occurs on a two-year cycle.

• Example 3: Professional Association's General Assembly

  A large national association for healthcare professionals holds a General Assembly where its members elect new leadership, vote on significant policy changes for the organization, and review financial reports. To ensure broad participation and allow time for regional chapters to prepare proposals, the association's bylaws stipulate that this General Assembly must convene every two years, for example, in the spring of 2023, 2025, and so on.

  This is an example of a biennial session because the association's highest decision-making body meets for its official business and governance functions once every two years.