WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. Senate was called to order for 11 seconds on Wednesday as the last political scuffle of the year between the White House and the Democratic-led Congress played out. 

Democratic senators will hold short "pro forma" sessions over the holiday break to prevent recess appointments. 

Nearly all the senators left the Capitol for the Christmas holiday last week, but Democrats are keeping the Senate in session to block President Bush from making any recess appointments -- a constitutional mechanism that allows the president, during congressional recesses, to fill top government posts for up to one year without Senate confirmation. 

Sen. Jim Webb, D-Virginia, opened and then immediately gaveled the Senate session to a close. He spent 57 seconds in the chamber. 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, announced December 19 that he would keep the Senate open with a series of "pro forma" sessions through mid-January. 

Talks had just broken down with the White House on a deal that would have allowed the president to make dozens of those appointments if he agreed not to appoint one controversial official, Steven Bradbury, as the permanent head of the influential Office of Legal Counsel at the Justice Department. 

Bush declined to accept the Democrats' offer, and Reid refused to approve Bradbury because of concerns about his involvement in crafting legal opinions for the administration on interrogation techniques of terrorism suspects. 

Similar sessions were conducted over the Thanksgiving recess. 

Webb also did the duty Friday, but he won't be the only senator tasked with presiding over the shortened sessions. Other Democrats -- including Sens. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Ben Cardin of Maryland and Chuck Schumer of New York -- will share the duty. E-mail to a friend 

Answer the following questions:
1. why are democrats keeping the Seante in session?
2. what are they?
3. to do what?
4. who did Reid refuse to approve?
5. what job did Bush want him to have?
6. how many senators were planning to help Webb?
7. which state does Webb represent
8. how long was his session?
9. what are these sessions called?
10. what job does Reid have?
11. where is he based?
12. what holiday were they breaking for?
13. were all senators still in the Capitol?
14. when did Reid announce the sessions?
15. until when?
16. Webb had taken the wednesday session, what other one was he planning?
17. which New York Senator was going to help?
18. Where is Mary Landrieu from?
19. what did the democrats want Bush to do?
20. did Bush agree?

Numbered answers:
1. to block President Bush from making any recess appointments
2. a constitutional mechanism
3. that allows the president, during congressional recesses, to fill top government posts
4. Bradbury
5. permanent head of the influential Office of Legal Counsel at the Justice Department
6. Six
7. Virginia
8. 57 seconds
9. pro forma
10. Senate Majority Leader
11. Nevada
12. Thanksgiving
13. No
14. December 19
15. through mid-January
16. Friday
17. Chuck Schumer
18. Louisiana
19. not appoint one controversial official
20. No