Thread by @jbtutor

#English #英語学習 The US Congress is entering its "lame duck session". Since Congress' election terms are fixed, this is a period between the election and when at least some existing members are replaced with new ones in January. Until then, the old Congress is 100% valid. 1/

Meaning, any bill passed by a "lame duck Congress" is 100% as legal as any other, but purists see it as lacking true legitimacy, "sneaking in" legislation before changes take place. Again: It's 100% legal, Representatives are serving until the day and hour they aren't. 2/

For presidents, "political capital" is an invisible resource of influence, goodwill, and general support. The threat of an angry president being re-elected and taking vengeance on you is thought to keep "friendly" members of Congress "in line" and supporting party goals... 3/

Much debate about presidents centers on when a president has exhausted his/ her political capital and cannot persuade/ threaten his own side into supporting his/ her agenda. This is when a president becomes a "lame duck", in power but relatively "powerless" from that point on 4/

@threadreaderapp unroll ください。