America held an election on Tuesday. Today, nothing has changed. Ed Rendell is still Pennsylvania’s governor. Arlen Specter is still the senior senator from Pennsylvania. Joe Sestak still represents Pennsylvania’s sixth district in Congress. Nancy Pelosi is still the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Democrats still hold the majority in the House. Everyone who was a member of Congress on Monday is still a member today. Real elections don’t work as they do on American Idol.
The 111th U.S. Congress remains in place until the members of the 112th Congress are sworn in and take their seats at noon on January 3, 2011. And not a minute sooner. (U.S. Constitution, Twentieth Amendment, Section 2) Between now and then, Congress still has the same powers and duties that it always has. This time is called a lame duck period because some members of each chamber – the House and the Senate – will not return in January.
Congress is usually reluctant to tackle substantial new projects in a lame duck session. Generally, they only meet when there are pressing matters to handle. However, anything they do in a lame duck session is just as valid as their actions at any other time.
Congress has fulfilled its constitutional duties for the year, and is not required to return to work unless the president orders them to do so. (U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 3) Yet Congress will return to work on November 15 to address several pressing issues, including taxes, government spending , Medicare, greenhouse gas regulations, oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, and a nuclear weapons treaty with Russia.
Meanwhile, between now and January, the newly-elected members will attend orientation and briefing sessions, hire their staffs, find places to live in or near Washington DC, learn their office and committee assignments, quit their current jobs, tie up loose ends at home, and pack for moving.
One of the first duties of the new House of Representatives will be to choose its speaker (U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 2, Clause 5). Traditionally, the leader of the majority party receives that honor. In January, that will be Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio). However, that is neither required nor guaranteed. The House may choose any of its 435 members as speaker – even a newly elected rookie. However, The House is expected to follow tradition and select Boehner as its speaker.
The Democrats will continue to hold the majority of Senate seats, but they will vote on a majority leader. They are free to re-elect Harry Reid (D-Nevada) or not, as they wish. The teeveetalkingheads expect Reid to continue in the post.
Tom Corbett will become Pennsylvania’s 46th governor at noon on Tuesday, January 17, 2011. The Pennsylvania General Assembly operates under rules similar to those of Congress and will be sworn on January 4, 2011.
The state House will convene in lame duck session on Monday, November 8. The PA Senate has not yet published its calendar.
So, let’s all look forward to yet another round of gut-wrenching, hair-pulling, eye-rolling antics of our elected representatives.
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