Closed party conferences allow relatively few lawmakers to control legislative business.
The Senate may choose to address other administrative issues, or begin with legislative business.
Either way, the party organizing the Senate has to keep responsibility in its own hands for handling legislative business.
Special Orders are conducted after the day's legislative business has ended and typically last until midnight.
The rules package will be the first major legislative business for the 112th Congress, which convenes tomorrow.
Thereafter, each House proceeds to the transaction of legislative business.
In most cases, rules limit debate so that major bills can be passed during one day of legislative business.
Some Connecticut lawmakers, including two who are running for governor, will have to find time between campaign stops to conduct their legislative business.
New Jersey lawmakers hold other jobs, but they say they work an average of 35 hours per week on legislative business.
With the growth of legislative business and the United States, there became a great need for expanded working space.