(1933), the Twentieth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished lame duck sessions of Congress. Prior to its enactment, national elections were held in November, but the president and the new Congress did not take office until March 4 of the next year. As a result, defeated officials, called "lame ducks," remained in office for four months but with diminished power since they were soon to leave. The amendment provides for the president to be inaugurated on January 20 and for the new Congress to convene on January 3.
