Congressional ‘lame-duck’ sessions are busier than ever
Share of all public laws that became law during the lame-duck period (on or after Election Day)
Note: A lame-duck session is when the current Congress meets after the new Congress has been elected, but before its new term begins.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of Congress.gov data
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Congressional ‘lame-duck’ sessions are busier than ever
Share of all public laws that became law during the lame-duck period (on or after Election Day)
| Year | Congress | congress | Years | Share of lame-duck laws | remainder |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 100th (1987-89) | 100th | 1987-88 | 10.9 | 99.1 |
| 1989 | 101st (1989-91) | 101st | 1989-90 | 19.5 | 90.5 |
| 1991 | 102nd (1991-93) | 102nd | 1991-92 | 1.0 | 109.0 |
| 1993 | 103rd (1993-95) | 103rd | 1993-94 | 0.4 | 109.6 |
| 1995 | 104th (1995-97) | 104th | 1995-96 | 0.3 | 109.7 |
| 1997 | 105th (1997-99) | 105th | 1997-98 | 11.4 | 98.6 |
| 1999 | 106th (1999-01) | 106th | 1999-00 | 22.6 | 87.4 |
| 2001 | 107th (2001-03) | 107th | 2001-02 | 26.8 | 83.2 |
| 2003 | 108th (2003-05) | 108th | 2003-04 | 16.9 | 93.1 |
| 2005 | 109th (2005-07) | 109th | 2005-06 | 23.9 | 86.1 |
| 2007 | 110th (2007-09) | 110th | 2007-08 | 2.6 | 107.4 |
| 2009 | 111th (2009-11) | 111th | 2009-10 | 25.8 | 84.2 |
| 2011 | 112th (2011-13) | 112th | 2011-12 | 30.7 | 79.3 |
| 2013 | 113th (2013-15) | 113th | 2013-14 | 37.5 | 72.5 |
| 2015 | 114th (2015-17) | 114th | 2015-16 | 25.8 | 84.2 |
| 2017 | 115th (2017-19) | 115th | 2017-18 | 37.3 | 72.7 |
| 2019 | 116th (2019-21) | 116th | 2019-20 | 43.9 | 66.1 |
| 2021 | 117th (2021-23) | 117th | 2021-22 | 40.9 | 69.1 |
| 2023 | 118th (2023-25) | 118th | 2023-24 | 61.3 | 48.7 |
Note: A lame-duck session is when the current Congress meets after the new Congress has been elected, but before its new term begins.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of Congress.gov data
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
