Quick question about dates

[the redcoat]

What day does the 111th Congress end, and what day does the 112th start?

I ask because Harry Reid says they have "until January 4th," but Wikipedia says the 112th Congress starts on January 3rd.


So...does the 112th Congress start on 1/3 or 1/5?

[MousePlayingDaffodil]

1. Per Amendment XX, section 1 . . . .

of the U.S. Constitution, the terms of the Senators and Representatives that comprise the 111th Congress "shall end" on January 3, 2011. On that same day, the terms of the Senators and Representatives that comprise the 112th Congress "shall then begin."

Meanwhile, in conformity with Amendment XX, section 2 of the Constitution, and per Public Law 111-289 (enacted, I believe, at the beginning of this month), the first session of the 112th Congress will begin on January 5, 2011.