What’s A Lame Duck 🦆 Congress?
Answering your most-asked questions with a crossword on the side and extra whipped cream on top.
What’s A Lame Duck 🦆 Congress?
Read Time: 5 min 0 sec | Listen to Podcast | Watch on YouTube
─────── November 14, 2026 ───────
Happy Saturday!
On Monday, we invited our readers to join our three-day audio devotional series and pray for the ongoing drought and food crisis in East Africa. 24,629 people have joined us in praying.
This problem is only growing, but there’s still time to join us. Click here to sign up and listen to our three-day text series.
Let’s keep being doers of the Word together.
This week, the 119th Congress began its last five-week sprint before the 120th Congress takes over on January 3, also known as a lame-duck session… We don’t know about you, but we had so many questions. Waddle with us while we try to answer “What are lame duck sessions?” “Why’s it called that?” and “How does it impact things?”
New here? TPO Explains does a shallow dive into your most-asked questions every Saturday.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Sometimes when you’re in a dark place you think you’ve been buried, but you’ve actually been planted.”
Christine Caine
BREWING QUESTIONS
WHAT YOU’RE ASKING
What’s a lame duck session?
It’s any meeting of Congress after a November election but before the new Congress begins January 3.
Lame duck also refers to an outgoing politician (presidents or lawmakers who are retiring or lost reelection).
Why’re they called lame ducks?
The term dates back to the 18th century British stock exchange. It applied to someone who put the broke in stockbroker (they couldn’t pay off their debts so they couldn’t keep trading). Like an injured duck, they got left behind by the flock market.
It started referring to outgoing politicians in the 19th century, and in 1933, the U.S. ratified the 20th Amendment (commonly called the “Lame Duck Amendment”), which shortened the transition period for outgoing federal officials.
Before it, officials who lost stayed in office until March 4, about four months after Election Day. The defeated Congress members came back in December and kept legislating, while the newly elected Congress didn’t normally meet until 13 months after its election.
So does anything get done?
Yes, actually. Lame ducks may have less influence, but they still retain their full voting power until the new Congress arrives. These sessions are used to resolve unfinished business (dun dun dun) or handle urgent issues because politics and world events don’t take Christmas break.
Lame duck sessions created the Department of Homeland Security after 9/11 (2002) and impeached Bill Clinton (1998). The most productive session in 1974 passed 138 substantive laws.
This year’s session has a particularly full to-do list because lawmakers punted so many issues to after midterms. The biggest: funding the government to avoid a shutdown (the current stopgap runs out Dec. 11). See all their to-dos.
Do they have to meet?
They don’t have to, but since 2000, they always have.
Sometimes, Congress’s goal is just to stay open. When Congress is out of session, the president can pocket veto bills (a veto lawmakers can’t override… see our mini explainer here!) and temporarily fill vacant federal positions without Senate approval. Keeping Congress technically in session can prevent both.
These are called pro forma sessions—brief meetings where no business happens so that, constitutionally, Congress can say it’s in session even though they’re usually only “meeting” for a few seconds.
What if lame duck politicians go rogue?
That is the concern of critics.
They argue politicians who didn’t get reelected are less likely to care about what their constituents want, and one study has actually shown a slight shift in voting patterns during lame duck sessions. Others note that in a typical session most incumbents win reelection and few retire, so few members are lame ducks (though this year, more House members are leaving than have in the last 30 years).
CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Politicians come and go, often disappointing supporters and opponents alike. Put your hope in the Lord, Who has no term limit, Who rules with compassion, and Who executes justice perfectly.
“But the LORD sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for judgment. And he judges the world with righteousness; he executes judgment on the nations with fairness. The LORD is a refuge for the persecuted, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you because you have not abandoned those who seek you, LORD.”
Psalm 9:7–10 (CSB) (read full passage)
FROM OUR PARTNERS 🤠
Elevate Your Home
Inviting scents are one of the fastest ways to elevate your space. And with Aura House’s cold-air diffusion, you can wrap every room in a signature atmosphere.
Unlike candles or sprays, cold-air diffusion releases pure fragrance without heat, water, or alcohol. Every room is washed in a clean, even scent—no flame, no soot, no melted wax. It’s safer for kids and pets, Sephora Clean-certified, and free of phthalates and other junk you don’t want in your air.
Use code TPO10 for 10% off, and turn your home into a sanctuary that makes you breathe a nice, long exhale at the end of the day.
Use code TPO10 for 10% off and elevate your home
Curious how we choose sponsors? Learn more | Advertise with us
HOUSE BLEND
WHAT YOU’LL ENJOY
Playing this week’s mini crossword… Hope you’ve been reading this week!
Whipped Cream on Top: How are these guys predators again?…
This card game that gets you past “How’s your week?” Created by TPO Reader Derrick Y., Not Just Sundays has 165 faith-focused questions that move from laughter to reflection to deeper connection. Bring it to small group, a coffee date, or family dinner; it’s designed for ages 14 and up. Warning: only use if you want to laugh, pray, and be encouraged. Start a conversation worth having!*
*This is a free promo for a TPO-reader-owned small biz. Have your own small business you want us to know about? Fill out this form!
WHAT YOU’VE BEAN CLICKING…
Top News Link: The sllllooooowww sinking of the SS United States off the coast of Florida this week.
Top Christian Perspective: A prayer to hold close when facing tragic news. Download and save it here.
Top Whipped Cream: Our Creator’s creation = breathtaking
TAKE IT TO GO
WHAT WE’RE RECOMMENDING
What’s Making Vets Do a Double Take
This pup-approved dog food*
Sundays for Dogs is (literally) what the doctor ordered.
Created by a veterinarian, Dr. Tory started Sundays after she couldn't find food she felt good feeding her own dog. Every recipe starts with human-grade meats, fruits, and veggies, then gets gently air-dried to lock in nutrition and flavor. It stores ready-to-go in the pantry like other foods, and dogs love it.
But don’t just take our word for it: in an independent test, pooches chose Sundays’ chicken recipe over kibble 39-0.
Take this off your plate (and put it in their bowl). Use code POUROVER for 50% off plus free shipping and a 14-day money-back guarantee.
*From our partners
WHAT WE’RE PRAYING
A Prayer “For Lawmakers” from TPO’s book Praying the News
Righteous Lawgiver, You have created us for Yourself, and You’ve charted the path to flourishing. You are the Way and the Destination. You are holy on Your throne, resplendent with glory, ruling by a perfect law and presiding over an eternal kingdom free from sin.
Give wisdom to our fallen leaders legislating in a fallen world, so that they might manage sin-caused chaos with dignity and skill. Direct their steps so they can direct a diverse country toward flourishing and goodwill and peace. Give them insight into the needs of their constituents and courage to lead in light of what they see, so they might serve out of love instead of performing for their own gain. Give them favor among their colleagues, so they might earn and carefully steward trust and negotiate in good faith. And when they disagree on the best way forward, may they model gentleness, respect, and humility, creatively compromising to bring about the good of the public. Strengthen them for long, hard days, and bless the work of their hands. Amen.
LEARN WITH US
Each week, we do the deep shallow dive so that you don’t have to. We bring what we learn not only to this email, but we sit down and talk about it, too. Check out this week’s episode of TPO Explains... just click on the episode below.
