joint session

American  

noun

1. a joint meeting, as of both houses of a bicameral legislature.

   The president addressed a joint session of Congress on the crisis in Central America.

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Etymology

Origin of joint session

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65

Example Sentences

Number of times a British monarch has addressed Congress in joint session, after Britain’s King Charles did so on Tuesday with a speech marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

“Prices are plummeting downward,” the president told the American public and a joint session of Congress during his marathon State of the Union address.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 3, 2026

Some 20 players from the men's team were feted in the Oval Office at the White House and again at Trump's speech before a joint session of Congress.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

The annual set piece before a joint session of Congress in early March of that year offered him an opportunity—a requirement, really—to show that he was capable of doing the job for another four years.

From Slate • Feb. 24, 2026

On the night of Monday, March 15, as seventy million Americans watched on television, the president made his case before a joint session of Congress.

From "Because They Marched" by Russell Freedman