The new school term has begun again at the National Diet Building.

It's the start of a new school year on Capitol Hill.

But not actually until next week.

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Congress is not yet in session for the fall semester, even though millions of children returned to school just after Labor Day or, in some cases, early August.

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That comes on Monday, September 9, when the House and Senate will return to legislative activity for the first time in more than a month. The Senate last voted on August 1. The House was supposed to be in session by then, too. But the House cut a full week off its July schedule, abandoning Washington a week early.

However, the situation around the Capitol is beginning to return to normal.

And I, along with several members of the congressional press corps, have begun returning to the Capitol this week.

My mother taught second grade in Ohio for decades, and she would usually return to school for a few days in late August for conferences and to prepare her classroom for the new semester.

So congressional aides, administration staff and reporters returned to the Capitol this week to “prep the room” for the new school year.

But the analogy between Congress resuming its sessions and students returning to classrooms is incomplete. This isn't the start of a new Congress. There aren't new teachers or new lockers. There aren't new students from other schools. There isn't the energy of hope and opportunity that comes with a new school year permeating the air. Capitol Hill in September is much the same as it was in July. The “real” start of the “school year” is the swearing-in ceremony for the 119th Congress on January 3, 2025, at noon. Then new people will show up. There will be new chairs and chairpersons of committees. Some lawmakers will take on new positions. Capitol Hill is usually buzzing with optimism.

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The only thing students and lawmakers have in common at this time of year is the desire to get out of school. This universal desire is common to students and lawmakers all year round. Everyone wants to get out of school. They want to be free. They want a break.

Although it's probably appropriate to call periods when Congress is not in session “recesses,” some appearance-conscious lawmakers prefer to call these breaks “constituency periods,” which is more dignified and peaceful.

Can you imagine students calling anything after the seventh period “homework period”? “Algebra II supplement”? How about “Earth Science supplement”?

If there is one thing that American students and members of Congress have in common, it is their longing for the so-called summer vacation. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Tell me, what would a college student in Panama City call spring break? “Sprint semester at the beach.” Maybe “Guide to local open container laws.” Maybe “Exploring the Caribbean legal system.”

But back to Congress.

It's an election year, and the lawmakers can't wait to get out of here. They haven't been here all summer.

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There was little legislative activity in Congress throughout the year. The assassination attempt on former President Trump and the behind-the-scenes battle within the Democratic Party to pressure President Biden to step down occupied most of everyone's attention this summer. The last major bill Congress worked on was in April. Congress finally approved a set of bills on government funding that were due in October last year. Congress also approved aid to Israel and Ukraine. Other than that, Congress didn't have much to do except get through the convention. Next up are elections, and both the House and the Senate are narrowly divided. The same goes for the presidential election. So there's not much to do in Congress. And those who are retiring or losing primaries are happy to leave Washington early.

So this isn't really a “back to school” season. In Congressional terms, fall is often reminiscent of what students experience in the spring: It's getting hot outside. Minds are wandering, teachers have a hard time keeping everyone focused, and everyone is looking forward to summer vacation. It's like the seasons are reversed here.

Another apt comparison is that Congress is like a school; it doesn't recess until lawmakers finish class. In Congress, that equates to funding the government. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The House is scheduled to meet for four days next week, then four days the week of September 15, and finally five days the week of August 22, ending on Tuesday, November 12. But there are even rumors that the House could (emphasis on could) return funding the last week of September, provided Congress funds the government and there's no possibility of a government shutdown on October 1, which is the start of the government's new fiscal year.

Yes, just like schools, Parliament has to get its work done before recess. But sometimes Parliament can't meet the deadline and a catch-up course is needed. “Summer session”, but in Parliament's eyes it's “Autumn/Winter session”. Or even “Spring session”. Remember, the last time Parliament was able to fully fund the government, it was only in April this year. Parliament only took three seasons. Who knows what the Headmaster will do if he gets his work done on bad students like this Parliament did.

But like students, lawmakers have similar motivations: They'll do anything to get home. To the beach. To take a break. Or, in this case, to campaign.

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House Republicans are struggling to raise funds. Democrats are on the offensive after Harris took over as VP. Both parties know the House depends on a small number of seats. And whichever party wins the White House will likely determine which party controls the House in 2025.

In other words, the motivations on both sides are the same.

The Senate is similar, but Democrats have a tougher task of maintaining their slim 51-49 majority. West Virginia will likely be lost with the retirement of Sen. Joe Manchin (IW.Va.), who caucuses with the Democrats. Democrats also need to pick up swing seats in Republican-leaning states like Ohio and Montana, not to mention holding on to seats in battleground states like Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

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So, for now, school is back in session. And it doesn't matter if Congress does its homework between now and the end of the term. A big test is coming. Voters are going to give their lawmakers a big education on Election Day.