United States Senate

====Closed session====
{{Main|Closed sessions of the United States Senate}}
On occasion, the Senate may go into what is called a secret or closed session. During a closed session, the chamber doors are closed, cameras are turned off, and the galleries are completely cleared of anyone not sworn to secrecy, not instructed in the rules of the closed session, or not essential to the session. Closed sessions are rare and usually held only when the Senate is discussing sensitive subject matter such as information critical to national security, private communications from the president, or deliberations during [[Impeachment in the United States|impeachment]] trials. A senator may call for and force a closed session if the motion is seconded by at least one other member, but an agreement usually occurs beforehand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amer |first=Mildred |date=March 27, 2008 |title=Secret Sessions of Congress: A Brief Historical Overview |url=https://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RS20145.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806041728/https://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RS20145.pdf |archive-date=August 6, 2009}}</ref> If the Senate does not approve the release of a secret transcript, the transcript is stored in the Office of Senate Security and ultimately sent to the national archives. The proceedings remain sealed indefinitely until the Senate votes to remove the injunction of secrecy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amer |first=Mildred |date=March 27, 2008 |title=Secret Sessions of the House and Senate |url=https://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/98-718.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806041723/https://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/98-718.pdf |archive-date=August 6, 2009}}</ref> In 1973, the House adopted a rule that all committee sessions should be open unless a majority on the committee voted for a closed session.