Convene vs. Reconvene — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 28, 2024
Convene is to call together for a meeting or gathering, while reconvene means to gather again or resume after a pause.
Difference Between Convene and Reconvene
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Convene is the act of calling a group of people to gather for a meeting, event, or assembly for the first time on a specific occasion. It is about initiating a gathering to discuss, decide, or celebrate something. On the other hand, reconvene signifies the action of bringing together the same group after a break or adjournment. It implies a continuation of a previously started discussion or activity.
While convening often involves planning and organizing a new meeting, including setting the agenda, time, and place, reconvening focuses on resuming discussions or activities that were previously paused. Therefore, reconvening usually requires less preparation in terms of agenda setting, as the main points of discussion are typically already established.
Convening can happen for various reasons, such as starting a new project, discussing new ideas, or celebrating an event. It marks the beginning of something. In contrast, reconvening is more about continuity, ensuring that discussions or activities that began at the initial meeting are continued, followed up on, or concluded.
The decision to convene may come from a person in authority, an organization, or a group consensus, indicating the need to bring people together for a specific purpose. Meanwhile, the decision to reconvene is often a part of the proceedings of the initial meeting, where participants agree on a time and place to continue their discussions or activities.
Despite their differences, both actions are critical in collaborative environments, ensuring that people come together to exchange ideas, make decisions, and progress on shared goals. Whether convening or reconvening, the essence lies in the collective effort to achieve a common objective, highlighting the importance of unity and collaboration in achieving desired outcomes.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To call together for a meeting or gathering for the first time
To gather again or resume after a pause
Purpose
Initiating discussions, decisions, or celebrations
Continuing or concluding previous discussions or activities
Preparation
Requires setting agenda, time, and place
Often less preparation, agenda usually already established
Reason
Marks the beginning of a new discussion or project
Ensures continuity and follow-up of ongoing discussions
Decision to Act
Comes from authority, organization, or consensus for a specific purpose
Part of initial meeting's proceedings for agreed continuation
Compare with Definitions
Convene
To assemble for a formal or official purpose.
The committee convened to review the application submissions.
Reconvene
To meet again at an agreed time and place after a pause.
Participants agreed to reconvene in six months to assess progress.
Convene
To call to meet or gather.
The president convened an emergency meeting to address the crisis.
Reconvene
To resume a meeting or session previously begun.
After the lunch break, the committee will reconvene to continue discussions.
Convene
To initiate a gathering for discussion or decision-making.
The organization will convene a panel to explore innovative solutions.
Reconvene
To gather again after a break or adjournment.
The conference will reconvene tomorrow morning for the keynote speech.
Convene
To bring together a group of people for a meeting or event.
The board will convene at 10 AM to discuss the new policy.
Reconvene
To call back into session.
The chairperson decided to reconvene the meeting after receiving new information.
Convene
To come together or assemble, usually for a public purpose.
Community leaders will convene to plan the annual festival.
Reconvene
To come together again to continue activities.
The team will reconvene next week to finalize the project.
Convene
Come or bring together for a meeting or activity; assemble
The committee had convened for its final plenary session
He had convened a secret meeting of military personnel
Reconvene
Convene or cause to convene again, especially after a pause in proceedings
Parliament reconvenes on 1st June
It was agreed to reconvene the permanent commission
Convene
To come together usually for an official or public purpose; assemble formally.
Reconvene
(transitive) To resume something that has been convened and then paused.
Convene
To cause to come together formally; convoke
Convene a special session of Congress.
Reconvene
(intransitive) To come together again.
We will reconvene after lunch to discuss the outstanding points on the agenda.
Convene
To summon to appear, as before a tribunal.
Reconvene
To convene or assemble again; to call or come together again.
Convene
(intransitive) To come together; to meet; to unite.
Reconvene
Meet again;
The bill will be considered when the Legislature reconvenes next Fall
Convene
(intransitive) To come together, as in one body or for a public purpose; to meet; to assemble.
Convene
(transitive) To cause to assemble; to call together; to convoke.
Convene
(transitive) To summon judicially to meet or appear.
Convene
To make a convention; to declare a rule by convention.
To forestall any problems, we convened on the rule that all the database records would avoid containing certain literal strings.
Convene
To come together; to meet; to unite.
In shortsighted men . . . the rays converge and convene in the eyes before they come at the bottom.
Convene
To come together, as in one body or for a public purpose; to meet; to assemble.
The Parliament of Scotland now convened.
Faint, underneath, the household fowls convene.
Convene
To cause to assemble; to call together; to convoke.
And now the almighty father of the godsConvenes a council in the blest abodes.
Convene
To summon judicially to meet or appear.
By the papal canon law, clerks . . . can not be convened before any but an ecclesiastical judge.
Convene
Meet formally;
The council convened last week
Convene
Call together;
The students were convened in the auditorium
Common Curiosities
How do you reconvene a meeting?
You reconvene a meeting by gathering the same participants again after a break or adjournment, often at an agreed time and place.
Is reconvening limited to formal settings?
No, reconvening can occur in both formal and informal settings, wherever there is a need to continue previous activities or discussions.
Can anyone convene a meeting?
Yes, anyone with authority or agreement from a group can convene a meeting.
What preparation is needed to convene?
Preparing to convene involves setting an agenda, deciding on the time and place, and notifying potential participants.
What is the purpose of reconvening?
The purpose is to continue discussions, activities, or decision-making processes that were paused.
Can a meeting be reconvened without an initial adjournment?
Typically, reconvening implies that a meeting was adjourned or paused, indicating a formal continuation process.
What factors influence the decision to convene?
Factors include the need for discussion, decision-making, project initiation, or celebration of events.
What does it mean to convene a meeting?
To convene a meeting means to call it into existence or to gather participants for it for the first time on a specific occasion.
Why is reconvening important?
Reconvening is important for ensuring continuity, follow-up, and completion of discussions or projects started in previous meetings.
What challenges might arise when trying to reconvene?
Challenges include aligning participants' schedules, ensuring all relevant information is up-to-date, and maintaining momentum from the initial meeting.
How often can a group reconvene?
A group can reconvene as often as necessary to achieve their goals or complete their discussions.
Can the purpose of a convened meeting change when it reconvenes?
While the overarching purpose may remain, specific agenda items or discussion points might evolve between sessions.
Do virtual meetings apply to convening and reconvening principles?
Yes, the principles of convening and reconvening apply to virtual meetings just as they do to in-person meetings.
Does reconvening require a formal invitation?
While not always formal, reconvening usually involves notifying participants of the time and place for the next gathering.
Is there a limit to the number of times a group can reconvene?
There is no set limit; a group can reconvene as many times as needed to complete their objectives or follow-up on ongoing issues.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
