The spring recess is anything but a break and most members of Congress work even harder at home than they do in Washington.

CNN: Commentary: I'm just a bill on Capitol Hill

Changes that were approved include wider powers for MPs to initiate Commons debates, the possible reintroduction of September sittings to break-up the long summer recess, and a greater role for public petitions in Parliament.

BBC: Commons reform report debate

The president claimed that he made the recess appointments last year while the Senate was on a break.

NPR: Obama To Nominate Package Of Labor Board Members

President BARACK OBAMA: This window between now and the August recess, I think, is going to be the make or break period.

NPR: Obama Pushes Congress To Work On Health Care

So we can't afford to put this off, and the dedicated public servants who are gathered here today understand that and they are ready to get going, and this window between now and the August recess I think is going to be the make-or-break period.

WHITEHOUSE: THE WHITE HOUSE

But the appeals court panel ruled that a recess occurs only during the breaks between formal yearlong sessions of Congress, not just any informal break.

NPR: Obama To Nominate Package Of Labor Board Members

The court rejected that argument, but went even further, finding that under the Constitution, a recess occurs only during the breaks between formal year-long sessions of Congress, not just any informal break when lawmakers leave town.

NPR: Court Says Obama Appointments Violate Constitution