Evening star., 1932-08-14
CUT 43 DAYS
FROM PRESIDENCY
Ratification of "Lame Duck
Amendment Will Advance
Inauguration.

BY the Associated Press.
A prospect of less than four years in
the White House faces the presidential
candidate elected in November.
Herbert Hoover or Franklin D. Roose-
welt, after beginning the term Of Presi-
dent on March next, may be forced to
relinquish that high position 43 days
short of the four-year term, after serv-
ing only three years and 322 days.
All Senators and Representatives,
Furthermore, face q shorter term by two
months, and new Inauguration date,
January 20. is in prospect.
These shortened terms probably will
be brought about by the prospective
adoption next year Of the lame duck
amendment to the Constitution. Rati-
fication by 36 States is required to make
it effective Fourteen States already
have ratified, leaving but % States yet
to do so in order to make the amend
ment part Of the Constitution. No
State has rejected the proposal.
Norris Sponsored Change.
The amendment was proposed in a
joint resolution of Congress, sponsored
by Senator George w. Norris Of Ne
braska and approved last session. Sec
retary Stimson sent a certified copy to
the Governor of every State requesting
that 1t be submitted to the Legislature
Virginia was the first State to ratify,
taking its action March 4. New York
was second, followed by Mississippi.
Arkansas and Kentucky ratified the
same day, March II. Then followed
New Jersey. South Carolina, Michigan,
Hoipo phnda leland T1lipnie To11ieionn
West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
The Legislatures OF most of the States
which have not acted meet in January,
next year.
Under the amendment, the terms of
the President and Vice President end
at noon on January 20. of the year in
which such term would have ended If
the amendment had not been ratified.
1t also provides the terms of Senators
and Representatives shall END at noon
on January 8.
Representatives Term Cut
Completion Of ratification would mean
that Representatives elected in No
vember would serve only until January
8, 1885, or a term of l year and 10
months, instead of the usual years.
Senators elected in November for the
usual 6-year term would serve only 5
years and 10 months. Senators now
seated whose terms end in 1885 and
1887, likewise would serve two months
less, going out of Office on January 8
instead of March 4.
The amendment requires Congress to
assemble at least once year. and such
meeting must begin at noon January 3,
unless Congress shall by law appoint a
different day.
The expression lame duck" Is used to
describe Congressmen who continue In
service after they have failed Of re-
election. Congress in 1888. fixed the
terms Ct President Vice President, Sen
ators and Representatives elected, in
November to begin March A. following
The Senator's and Representatives are
not sworn In until the following Decem-
Der when the legislative session begins,
unless there is an extraordinary session
Of Congress.
Remain Long Time Later.
Following the succeeding November
when the next election is held, these
members, some of whom have become
Etiapne ducks" continue to hold their
eats from early December until the next
March 4. or entirely through the short
session of Congress.
The amendment now being acted upon
abolishes this short session of Congress,
fixes new Inauguration date and new
date for the beginning Of the terms OF
the President, Vice President. Senators
and Representatives. 1t provides that a
new Congress convene within two
months after its election rather than l3
months afterward as is now the case.
SponEors of the amendment declare it
will make Congress a more efficient and
responsive body. Representatives will
serve % months Of their term before an
other election takes place and then go
before their constituents for reelection,
If they desire. on the basis Of their
record.