What does the term "lame duck" refer to in the context of the 20th Amendment?

The term "lame duck" in the context of the 20th Amendment refers to a situation where a president, or other elected official, is nearing the end of their term and will not be returning to office after the next election. This term gained prominence after the 20th Amendment was ratified, which aimed to reduce the time between an election and the beginning of a new term, thus shortening the "lame duck" period.

When the amendment was enacted, it aligned the inauguration date for the President and Congress with January 20 and January 3 respectively, effectively minimizing the length of time an official could remain in office after the election without a mandate to govern. A "lame duck" president has diminished power and influence, as they are unable to pursue long-term initiatives aggressively, knowing they will soon be succeeded by someone else. This concept is central to understanding the dynamics of political power during transitional periods.