Closed sessions of the United States Senate


The United States Senate has the authority for meeting in closed session, as described in the Standing Rules of the Senate.
The Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention met in secret. The Senate met in secret until 1794. The Senate’s executive sessions
were not opened until 1929.
Standing Senate Rules XXI, XXIX, and XXXI cover secret sessions for legislative and executive business. Rule XXIX calls for Senate consideration of treaties to be conducted in secret unless a majority votes to lift the “injunction of secrecy,” which it usually does. Rule XXXI mandates that all nominations be considered in open session unless the Senate votes to do so in secret. Rule XXI calls for the Senate to close its doors once a motion is made and seconded. The motion is not debatable, and its disposition is made behind closed doors. All of a chamber’s normal rules of debate apply during secret sessions, except during impeachment deliberations in the Senate.
For Senate impeachment proceedings, Rules XX and XXIV of the Senate Rules for Impeachment Trials govern secret deliberations. The Senate has interpreted these rules to require closed deliberations during impeachment trials.
The proceedings of a secret session are not published unless the Senate votes, during the meeting or at a later time, to release them. Then, those portions released are printed in the Congressional Record. If the Senate does not approve release of a secret session transcript, the transcript is stored in the Office of Senate Security and ultimately sent to the National Archives and Records Administration. The proceedings remain sealed until the Senate votes to remove the injunction of secrecy.
These sessions have been held 56 times since 1929. The following is a full list of those sessions, along with their dates and the reasons they were called:
ReasonDate
Ratification of the New START TreatyDecember 20, 2010
Impeachment trial of G. Thomas Porteous Jr. December 7, 2010
The Plame affair and the Bush administration's role in pre-Iraq War intelligence November 1, 2005
Impeachment of President Bill Clinton February 9, 10, 11, 12, 1999
Impeachment of President Bill Clinton January 26, 1999
Impeachment of President Bill Clinton January 25, 1999
Chemical Weapons ConventionApril 24, 1997
Most favored nation status for People's Republic of ChinaFebruary 25, 1992
Impeachment trial of Judge Walter NixonNovember 2, 1989
Impeachment trial of Judge Alcee HastingsMarch 16 & October 19, 1989
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces TreatyMarch 29, 1988
Impeachment trial of Judge Harry E. ClaiborneOctober 7, 8 & 9, 1986
Defense Authorization Bill, ASATJune 12, 1984
Soviet Union arms control complianceFebruary 1, 1984
U.S. support of the Contras in NicaraguaApril 26, 1983
Nominations of Richard Burt and Richard McCormackFebruary 16, 1983
United States/Soviet Union defense capabilitiesMay 4, 1982
Armed Forces personnel managementFebruary 1, 1980
Selective Service SystemSeptember 21, 1979
Aircraft sales to Egypt, Israel, and Saudi ArabiaMay 15, 1978
Torrijos-Carter Treaties on the Panama CanalFebruary 21 & 22, 1978
Neutron bomb fundingJuly 1, 1977
Defense Appropriations - AngolaDecember 17 & 18, 1975
Intelligence Activities, alleged assassination plots involving foreign leadersNovember 20, 1975
Defense AppropriationsJune 4, 1975
Maneuverable reentry vehicleJune 10, 1974
Trident submarineSeptember 25, 1973
National Security StudyMay 2 & 4, 1972
U.S. involvement in LaosJune 7, 1971
Legislative Agenda for 91st CongressDecember 18, 1970
Legislative Agenda for 91st CongressSeptember 10, 1970
Defense AppropriationsDecember 15, 1969
Defense AppropriationsJuly 17, 1969
Defense AppropriationsOctober 2, 1968
Committee on Intelligence Operations & Security Agency oversightJuly 14, 1966
Nike-Zeus productionApril 11, 1963
War front reportsOctober 7 & 8, 1943
Naval battleships and aircraft carriersJune 26, 1942
Impeachment of Judge Halsted L. RitterApril 15 & 16, 1936
William MacCracken contempt proceedingsFebruary 13 & 14, 1934
Investigation of ocean and air mail contracts involving William MacCracken and othersFebruary 10, 1934
Impeachment of Judge Harold LouderbackMay 24, 1933