[xzins]

But the appointments are good only until the end of the next session of Congress, in this case the end of 2005.

I don't think that's accurate. After a presidential election in Nov 2004, doesn't the new congress show up in roughly the same timeframe as the new president...at the beginning of 2005?

[ThePythonicCow]

The new congress starts early in 2005, but doesn't _end_ their session until late 2005. The appointment is good until the end of that session, according to my understanding.

[nuconvert]

Right, so the end of the next session is the end of 2005.