#Lame duck meaning pro#

Besides, now freed from any obligation to court voters for another election, lame ducks have much more freedom to follow their own course. It's somewhat mean-spirited, looking toward the future while the incumbent remains in office - for the time being.īut to saddle politicians with lame duck status simply because they have reached the end of their terms is like assuming an aged lion no longer has any teeth they were once, after all, powerful. The term is often used to describe sitting presidents who have served two terms, and have entered their last year. Lame duck politicians are serving out their final terms because they have lost a re-election or are no longer eligible to serve.

It's held on February 6 because it was on that day in 1933 that the 20th Amendment was adopted. February 6 of each year is 'Lame Duck Day,' a time to reflect upon the service provided by a public servant after his or her tenure has been completed. Twentieth Amendment Written by George Norris and also called the ' Lame Duck Amendment,' it changed the inauguration date from March 4 to January 20 for president and vice president, and to January 3 for senators and representatives.The lame-duck phenomenon even has its own obscure holiday. How Lame Duck Sessions May OccurUnder the Twentieth Amendment, lame duck sessions can still occur but only as a result of specific actions undertaken either by the Congress already sitting or by the President.Īs consistent with prudent planning and municipal election legislation, all municipal councils need to assume that as of July 2018 they may have a Lame Duck period.ĬRS Report R元4597, The Enactment of Appropriations Measures During Lame Duck Sessions, by Megan S. Lame Duck Sessions Following a Majority Party Election Loss, 1935-2016From 1935 to 2016, seven lame duck sessions followed an election that changed the majority party in one or both chambers of Congress.įor information on past action on appropriations measures after an election, see CRS Report R元4597, The Enactment of Appropriations Measures During Lame Duck Sessions, by Megan S.Īlthough a post-election lame duck session has been possible since 1982, it had never occurred before theNovember 2018 Lame Duck Session.

#Lame duck meaning pro#

Length and Timing of Lame Duck Sessions, 1935-2016In Congresses featuring a lame duck session, the preceding election break spanned an average of six to seven weeks and generally began by early to mid-October.5 During the break, the chambers either were in recess or held a series of pro forma sessions.6Lame duck sessions begin once regular, consecutive daily sessions resume after an election break.įor an extensive examination of the occurrence, duration, and actions of lame-duck sessions, see CRS Report R元3677, Lame Duck Sessions of Congress, 1935-2012 (74th-112th Congresses), by (name redacted) and (name re dacted). Gilbert, Changes to the UK Cartel Offence-Be Careful What You Wish for 6 Journal of European Competition Law & Practice 192 for the 2002 version, see idem, The UK Cartel Offence: Lame Duck or Black Mamba, Centre for Competition Policy Working Paper No.