A parliamentary session is defined as the period over which parliament meets to debate. The National Council and the Council of States meet regularly for ordinary sessions.

Four ordinary sessions, each lasting three weeks, take place every year. The spring session takes place in March, the summer session in June, the autumn session in September and the winter session in November/December.

An additional special session may be held if the volume of business cannot be dealt with during the ordinary sessions. Each Council may decide independently whether it needs to hold a special session. In addition, one quarter of the members of either Council or the Federal Council may request that a special parliamentary session be convened.

Schedule of sessions 2024

Sittings of the chambers

The National Council normally sits

 * Tuesday afternoons are reserved for meetings of the parliamentary groups.

The Council of States normally sits

* Tuesday afternoons are reserved for meetings of the parliamentary groups.

Night sittings (open end) are held when the volume and urgency of business demands it.