Number: RL33677
Title: Lame Duck Sessions of Congress, 1935-2004 (74th-108th Congresses)
Authors: Richard S. Beth, Government and Finance Division 
Abstract: The possibility of a lame duck session of Congress in the modern sense began in 1935, when the 20th Amendment to the Constitution took effect. Under this amendment, ratified in 1933, Congress meets in a regular session on January 3 of each year, unless in the previous session it passes a law changing the date. Also, the terms of Members begin and end on January 3 of odd-numbered years. Under these arrangements, any meeting of Congress after election day (in November of evennumbered years), but before the following January 3, is a lame duck session. From 1935 through 2004, there were 15 lame duck sessions. The most recent one occurred at the end of the 108th Congress in 2004. This report examines only the specific lame duck sessions that have occurred since 1935, not those that occurred routinely before this date.
Pages: 18
Date: October 2, 2006