§16 Same; Seats for Officers and Members of Two Houses in Joint Session

Summary

Provide set seats for the joint meeting to count electoral votes. The President of the Senate sits in the Speaker’s seat, the Speaker sits immediately to that left, Senators sit on the presiding officer’s right, Representatives take the remaining seats, the tellers with the Secretary of the Senate and the House Clerk sit at the Clerk’s desk, and other officers sit in front of that desk and beside the Speaker’s platform. The joint meeting must not end until the electoral votes are counted and the result is declared. No recess is allowed unless a question arises about counting or other matters under this subchapter; then either House, acting separately, may direct a recess not beyond the next calendar day, Sunday excepted, at the hour of 10 o'clock in the forenoon. If the counting and declaration are not completed before the fifth calendar day next after such first session, no further recess may be taken.