What Is a Lame-Duck Session of Congress?
Reviewed:
A lame-duck session is the stretch after an election when the outgoing Congress is still in charge. Members who lost or retired keep their votes until the new Congress is sworn in.
How long it lasts
Under the 20th Amendment (ratified in 1933), new terms in Congress begin at noon on January 3. So the lame duck usually runs from mid-November to late December, and can last until January 2. Before the amendment, the old Congress could sit until March 4.
What gets done
Lame-duck sessions are often busy. Typical work includes:
- Spending bills to keep the government funded past a deadline
- The annual defense bill (the National Defense Authorization Act)
- Senate confirmations of judges and executive nominees, while the current majority still controls the Senate
- Bills that stalled before the election and might not survive a new majority
Because some members are leaving and no longer face voters, lame ducks can be unpredictable: deals that weren't possible before the election sometimes pass.
Sources: National Constitution Center, "How the 20th Amendment made lame-duck sessions less lame"; Congressional Research Service, "Lame Duck Sessions of Congress, 1935–2024".
Questions and answers
Why is it called a lame duck?
Because the outgoing Congress is still in charge after the election, including members who lost or retired and will soon leave.
How long does the lame-duck session last?
Usually from mid-November to late December. It can run until January 2, because the new Congress begins at noon on January 3 under the 20th Amendment.
What usually gets done in a lame duck?
Spending bills to keep the government funded, the annual defense bill, Senate confirmations of judges and nominees, and bills that stalled before the election.