In politics, the “lame duck” Congress refers to the period of time where the Congress is in session after their successors have been elected. According to Wikipedia (so it must be true), “The phrase ‘lame duck’ was coined in the eighteenth century at the London Stock Exchange, to refer to a stockbroker who defaulted on his debtsIt was transferred to politicians in the nineteenth century, the first recorded use is in the Congressional Globe (then the official record of the United States Congress) of January 14, 1863: "In no event could [the Court of Claims] be justly obnoxious to the charge of being a receptacle of 'lame ducks' or broken down politicians."
READ MORE from Lame Duck or Active Duck