Is it proper to call Congress "lame duck" because some of the Senators and Representatives are actual "lame ducks"?

Traditionally, when Congress is in the transition period between an election, and a new session of Congress, very little of importance is passed. The time is usually spent trying to get pork politics through so that a senator or rep who has lost an election can have a good foot to stand on when he or she goes back to the home state. If you go throughout history, there have been very few substantial bills passed during these transitional periods.

Due to this fact, the periods have gotten the moniker of, "lame duck. " With the exception of the transition during 1978 (since we were exiting Vietnam) there were very few important bills that were even dicussed during this time. If Congress is not even going to try to do something useful, it is time for a lame duck moniker.

There is a vast difference, though, with this Congressional tranisition period. The Democrats still need to show that they are united and can work for the American people. The Republicans need to show that they are in charge, hold the chips, and can get things taken care of better than the exiting Democrats.

Teh President needs to show everyone that he can cause bipartisanship. This has proven to be one of the most important transitional periods in Congrssional history! Due to the fact that the media is used to calling Congress a lame duck during transitional periods, they continue to do so.

When you look oever what has happened in Congress, in just the last week, there is no way that they deserve that term to be associated with them. The extension of the Bish tax cuts passed. The repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell has passed.

The 9/11 first responders support bill is also set to pass. These are three very impoortant bills that might have taken months to pass under other circumstances. Instead of a lame duck Congress, maybe they should be compared to an eagle!

I would challenge anyone to find a week in Congressional history where three bills of this kind of media magnitude have passed outside of the Patriot Act and the New Deal. Chances are good that we would be waiting for a long time. As to the last part of your question/statement about most of Congress being reelected.

The term, lame duck, is still usually used when a majority of Congress is reelected, or if the party strength has not changed. One point that I think that I might have forgotten to bring up is that from election time until the end of the year, Congress is usually pretty lame (pardon the pun). During this time, as everyone rests up from being on the campaign trail, very little is taken care URL1 many cases, these men and women were working 20 hours days for the last week or two before the election.

The first week back after the election, they are usually to tired to even go into the office. There are entire weeks in the history of Congress after an election where there were not even enough reps and senators around to take a roll count to start the day! The media does not hit this due to the fact that it is one of the few times in which Congress is cut some slack.

This takes us into about the thrid week of November. There is a wekk to a week and a half for them to work before Thanksgiving break. Usually, quick grant votes and renewal or certain funding bills are the only things to go through.

Now, it is time for a break. The come back, usually, during the first week of December. Most of Congress is spending more time during December with lobbyists, than in the halls of Congress.

December is when the most back scratching happens, so nothing usually goes on. This year is unlike almost any other. They have the moniker due to historical practice, not due to what they are doing.

Face it - in the last week, they have been more productive than they have been in years.

Quote A "lame duck" session of Congress in the United States occurs whenever one Congress meets after its successor is elected, but before the successor's term begins. The expression is now used not only for a special session called after a sine die adjournment, but also for any portion of a regular session that falls after an election. In current practice, any meeting of Congress after election day, but before the following January 3, is a lame duck session.

Prior to 1933, when the 20th Amendment changed the dates of the congressional term, the last regular session of Congress was always a lame duck session. End quote If you can recall, after the 2008 elections before January 3, 2009, it was the lame duck president (Bush) with the lame duck 110th Congress that consist with the 2008 Congress - the newly elected officials were not part of the 110th Congress until January 2009 that transform to the 111th Congress. Therefore, the same process is done in 2010 with the exception of a new URL1 January 2011, the newly elected officials who were elected in 2010 will be the 112th Congress..

Well I would call them a lame duck for the fact that instead of everyone doing what is best for the country they are focusing whats in the best interest for them to get re-elected. Example1. Passing tax cuts onto the rich so that they can "create" jobs.

What happened over the past 4 years, where did those jobs go they created? Why would giving the people who don't need the extra money, help the economy when all it does is add to the deficit? The republican party also said that if you don't pass this we won't let the Don't ask Don't tell pass.

Example2. The health care reform being seen as unconstitutional to require Americans to have health insurance by 2014 of be taxed. If this is unconstitutional because its the government telling the people they have to buy something, well isn't that what car insurance is?

Also where in the constitution does it say that your neighbor has to pay your emergency room bill if you don't have insurance? It would be like not wanting a 72in flat screen TV, then your Fav team makes it to the Super Bowl and running into Wal*mart and demanding one for free. I could probably name others but I think you get the idea.

The reason for the "Lame Duck" is that the people who are going out probably don't give 2 poops on what passes, unless they have goals of reelection somewhere else.

No, it is not correct to call Congress as a whole a "Lame duck. " However, it IS correct to refer to "lame duck members" and a "lame-duck session. " Right off The US Senate's website, where they say exactly that: "lame duck" session - When Congress (or either chamber) reconvenes in an even-numbered year following the November general elections to consider various items of business.

Some lawmakers who return for this session will not be in the next Congress. Hence, they are informally called "lame duck" Members participating in a "lame duck" session.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.