<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> House of Representatives chamber United States Capitol Washington, D.C., United States </Td> </Tr> <P> A joint session of the United States Congress is a gathering of members of the two chambers of the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States: the Senate and the House of Representatives . Joint sessions can be held on any special occasion, but are required to be held when the President delivers a State of the Union address, when they gather to count and certify the votes of the Electoral College following a presidential election, or when they convene on the occasion of a presidential inauguration . A joint session is a ceremonial or formal occasion and does not perform any legislative function; and no resolution is proposed or vote taken . </P> <P> Joint sessions and meetings are usually held in the Chamber of the House of Representatives, and are traditionally presided over by the Speaker of the House . However, the Constitution requires the Vice President (as President of the Senate) to preside over the counting of electoral votes . </P> <P> The Twelfth Amendment mandates that the Congress assemble in joint session to count the electoral votes and declare the winners of the election . The session is ordinarily required to take place on January 6 in the calendar year immediately following the meetings of the presidential electors . The Twentieth Amendment now provides that the newly elected Congress declares the winner of the election . Until 1936, the outgoing Congress counted the electoral votes . </P>

Where is a joint session of congress held