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Politics
Jordan Cash, Assistant Professor of Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy, Michigan State University

The election is over − but what is a ‘lame duck’ anyway?

The term 'lame duck' has been around for hundreds of years, often referring to a person whose ability to exercise authority is limited for some reason. Planet Flem/DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images

The 2024 election has finally ended. What happens now?

There’s a 2½-month period between Election Day and Inauguration Day. It’s commonly known as the “lame-duck” period, when the outgoing president still holds official power but their successor has been chosen and is waiting to take the reins. Donald Trump is constitutionally barred from a third term in office by the 22nd Amendment, so he will be a lame duck from his first day in office, though his successor will not be known until 2028.

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