6/23/2023 0 Comments Define lame duck congress![]() ![]() ![]() Section 2 said that, “the Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3rd day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.” The terms of newly elected Senators and Representatives started on the same day. The 20th Amendment shortened this period. The session’s length didn’t allow Congress to conduct meaningful business on financial matters, but it left politicians in place that weren’t accountable to voters for a few extra months. This guaranteed that the last session of a Congress would be a lame-duck session that lasted from December 1st until March 4th. But Congress resumed on the first Monday in December, and a new Congress began on March 4th of odd-numbered years. On the following day, January 3, a new session begins and every other year it contains new members of Congress.īut before the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified on Januand took effect in 1935, lame-duck sessions were considerably different.Ĭongressional elections were held in November, as they are today. Today, the session period usually lasts from mid-November to the Christmas period in election years, but it can extend to January 2nd of the following year. In the 1830s, “lame duck” started to be used to describe American politicians had lost an election, or decided not to run for re-election, but still held office for a brief period. The Congressional Research Service traces the phrase “lame duck” to the British during the Colonial era, when it was used to describe businessmen who had financial troubles and who resembled wounded game birds. One of the most important, but least discussed, constitutional amendments made government more responsive by greatly shortening the time outgoing elected officials have a role in passing laws.Ī “lame-duck session” happens when Congress meets after an election, when these outgoing members still have voting powers to approve laws, and in the case of the Senate, approve nominees from the Executive Branch. Stay on top of all Public Strategies Impact news, press releases, and media coverage on our News page. In this case of a lame duck session, lawmakers are strategically waiting until this time to vote on controversial topics like marijuana legalization. Right now, New Jersey lawmakers are faced with two options: vote on a proposed law to make recreational marijuana legal or place a referendum on the November 2020 ballot asking New Jersey voters to decide whether or not to legalize. Most recently, New Jersey has been planning on making moves toward marijuana legalization during the lame duck period that stretches from early November to early January. When it comes to Congress, the lame duck session can be significant because they use this time to consider important votes that they may not have had time for before. Some of the law makers in this session will not be returning to the next Congress, so they are considered lame ducks participating in a lame duck session. The official definition of a lame duck session in Congress is when Congress reconvenes in an even-numbered year following the November general elections to consider various items of business. The term “lame duck session” often gets thrown around. So lame ducks at the end of their term tend to vote for what they believe in on the more controversial issues. ![]() They have nothing to lose when it comes to voting on issues they’re passionate about. On the positive side, these lame duck officials no longer have to appease the voters. They also do not have as much dealmaking power since other officials know they are not coming back. Many say that lame duck officials have less power because they don’t have the ability to negotiate and offer favors. There are positives and negatives to being a lame duck. presidents in their second and final terms are considered lame ducks, as well as Congress members who announce they’re retiring. A politician or elected official is considered a lame duck when they are not considering reelection, or their successor is already elected, and they are waiting for their term to end. If you’ve never heard of a lame duck when it comes to government, think of it this way. ![]()
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