The Lame Duck Congress /

"The Lame Duck Congress" is the 28th episode of The West Wing. As the last days of the lame-duck Congress roll forward, Sam finds out an active opponent of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty is going to be on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the staff considers calling for a special session to try and pass the treaty because it has no chance under the new Congress. Toby leads the effort but is caught short when a defeated Democratic Senator makes it clear why he can't support the treaty, even though he was the primary architect of it. Leo and C.J. have to do some fancy diplomatic footwork when a very pro-Western but equally pro-alcohol Ukrainian politician shows up at the White House demanding to meet with the President. Sam responds to Leo's new guideline for shorter policy summaries by working with Ainsley Hayes on a plan to prevent small-business fraud, but she impresses Sam so much he adopts all of her ideas and sends the plan forward to Leo and the President. The outgoing congress is identified as the 106th United States Congress, placing this episode in November 2000, following the midterm election in Bartlet's first term as President.