National Lame Duck Day
National Lame Duck Day, February 6th, commemorates the ratification of the 20th Amendment to the United States Constitution or the Lame Duck Amendment.
"Lame duck" was a term used to describe stockbrokers in 1700s England who were unable to pay off their debts. Since being bankrupt, the name was changed to those in company that would continue to do business even as being bankrupt.
A lame duck is a person currently holding a political office who has either: a lame duck or a person with either: a lame duck is a person currently serving a political office in politics who has either:
- In a re-election bid, the candidate lost a re-election bid
- The decision not to seek another term was not chosen not to seek another term
- Due to a term limit, candidates were refused from running for re-election
- Or holds a position that has been sacked or has been displaced from office
The 20th amendment
Congress had a 13-month delay between election day and the day the newly elected officials took office before the ratification of the 20th Amendment to the United States Constitution. In other words, the lame-duck was given a 13-month termination notice, destroying their authority. Hence the 'lame' or injured duck.
The same was true of the president. The 20th Amendment changed the date the newly elected president took office from March 4th to January 20th.
Members of Congress are no longer accountable to their constituents during a lame-duck session. As a result, their attention will shift to more personal gain rather than campaigning on behalf of their constituents with an eye toward re-election.
This time was reduced from 13 months to 2 months thanks to the 20th Amendment. Although lame-duck sessions still exist (20 such sessions have occurred since the 1935 amendment was in force in 1935), there is still no time for broad legislation to be approved. Among other things, lame-duck congresses have declared war, impeached a president, censured a senator, and passed the Homeland Security Act.
It is also considered a period of stable transition of power. The outgoing president will step down from his office, while the newly elected president will take over the position.
