A motion to adjourn closes the business of the day.
Three-Day Adjournment Limit:
Article I, section 5 of the U.S. Constitution prevents either house from adjourning for more than three days (not including Sundays) unless the other house concurs. Such adjournment authority for more than three days is accomplished through the adoption by both houses of a concurrent resolution, which does not require the signature of the President.
In recent Congresses, the use of concurrent resolutions to adjourn for more than three days has declined. Instead, when either Chamber wishes to adjourn for periods longer than three days, it usually holds a pro forma session within the three-day limit. At pro forma sessions, the Chair calls the body to order and transacts little or no business before it adjourns. A pro forma session allows a Chamber to satisfy the requirement of Article I, section 5, of the Constitution while still allowing Members to depart Washington for periods longer than three days.
In the case of an emergency in which the House may be in immediate danger, the Speaker may declare an emergency recess under clause 12 of rule I. If, during a recess or adjournment of not more than three days, the Speaker is notified by the Sergeant-at-Arms of an imminent danger to the place of reconvening, the Speaker may postpone the time for reconvening the House. The Speaker may also reconvene the House under those circumstances before the time previously appointed to declare the House in recess again. The Speaker may also change the time of reconvening if, in the opinion of the Speaker, it is in the public interest. These circumstances require the Speaker to notify Members accordingly. At the outset of the 119th Congress, the House agreed to H. Con. Res. 1, which permits the Speaker and the Majority Leader of the Senate to assemble at a place outside the District of Columbia whenever, in their opinion, the public interest shall warrant it (to date, the Senate has yet to take action on H. Con. Res. 1).
Furthermore, the House has a rule that allows it to deal with the consequences of a terrorist attack or other catastrophe that may incapacitate large numbers of Members. The rule (clause 5(c) of rule XX) allows the House to act if a quorum cannot be achieved. Quorum is the majority of the whole number of the House and is calculated from those Members who are chosen, sworn and living. Thus, if all Members of the House are alive, quorum is the majority of 435, or 218 Members. Incapacitated Members, though unable to vote, are nonetheless counted for purposes of quorum. If more than a majority of the House is incapacitated, the House would be unable to act because of a lack of quorum. The rule change allows for the House to conduct business with less than a majority of a fully constituted House – but only in times of catastrophe and subject to a number of procedural protections. This smaller number is called the provisional quorum. Operating with a provisional quorum lasts only until enough Members are revived for a regular quorum. Any legislation considered with a provisional quorum would be subject to bicameral approval and presentment to the President, and any votes adopted could be ratified or repudiated at a later time by a fully constituted House.