"Lame Duck GOVT 101" S 1 EP 6

TOPLESS GOVERNMENT

Congress recessed for the midterm elections back in September and they have many big-ticket legislative items to approve once they are back in session on November 14th. Today citizen legislators your host will discuss in this episode a “lame-duck session.” Now for those of you who live outside the Beltway, you're probably scratching your heads and yourself, what the heck is a “lame-duck session”? Well, I’m about to provide you with the definition from the horse's mouth, so to speak, the United States Senate.

When Congress is in session after a November election and before the beginning of the new Congress, it is known as a "lame-duck session." Prior to the adoption of the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution (1933), new Congresses convened in December of odd-numbered years, allowing the post-election Congress to meet and pass legislation for more than a year. The 1933 Amendment changed the convening date for a new Congress to January 3 of odd-numbered years, shortening the time between an election and the beginning of the next Congress to just two months. Since that time, Congress has met in the lame-duck session to conclude urgent or unfinished business.

We are less than a month away from the midterm elections and I for one am trying to figure what’s going to happen during the lame-duck session. Congress needs to finish its work on the Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriation bills – there will likely be an omnibus appropriations bill – all twelve individual bills wrapped up into a very large bill. S. 4543, James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (NDAA). Sam-sex marriage, H.R. 4040, Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID–19 Act of 2021, tax extenders, emergency supplemental for hurricanes Fiona and Ian, election reform.

Lame Duck Sessions of Congress Following a Majority-Changing Election: In Brief

The Enactment of Appropriations Measures During Lame Duck Sessions (congress.gov)

Lame Duck Sessions of Congress, 1935-2018 (74th-115th Congresses)

U.S. Senate: Lame Duck Sessions (1940-Present)

Buckle up, Congress: A ‘very lame’ lame duck is coming after the election - POLITICO

Lame duck looks stuffed - POLITICO

Welcome back to Topless Government. This show is a cross between Schoolhouse Rock and civics for the masses. I want to make this show relatable and fun for everyone who would like to know how YOUR government works. Remember knowledge is power! So let’s get started.

I am the host, Crystal Ellerbe. I live, breathe, eat, and sleep politics. I’ve done two tours of duty in the US Senate and one tour of duty in the US House. I had the privilege of working in state and local governments, corporate America and several lobbying firms in Washington, DC.

This is the beginning of the FIRST SEASON OF TOPLESS GOVERNMENT and I’ll be discussing topics that have been top of mind to everyone, providing an insight on how YOUR government works.

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