What Senate Democrats will do with their last days in the majority

The 113th Congress returns to Washington Wednesday to wrap up business in its lame-duck session--so named for ducks that have trouble keeping up with the flock, or in this case, members of Congress who will be cleaning out their offices in December. The term is used to describe the session of Congress that takes place after the November elections in even-numbered years.

It can be tricky determining congressional priorities when the party in power during the lame duck will lose its majority status in the new Congress, as is the case this year.

The Senate has few days left in session, with their time likely to be further abbreviated by a week off for Thanksgiving and two weeks off for Christmas. Here's what they'll be racing to finish, according to CBS News Congressional Correspondent Nancy Cordes and CBS Capitol Hill reporter John Nolen:

Preventing a government shutdown: Congress needs to pass a trillion-dollar spending bill to keep the federal government open and running. Senators are still wrangling over whether to pass a bill that funds the government all the way through the end of the current fiscal year in October 2015, or, whether to push for a short-term measure. Sen. Mitch McConnell , R-Kentucky, who's the minority leader now but expected to rise to majority leader in the new Congress, has said he has no interest in shutting the government down.

Considering the administration's Ebola funding request: Congress needs to act on the president's request for $6.2 billion to fight the Ebola virus. Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan has been talking with Congress about the funding, and he's optimistic, saying last week that he's heard from both Republicans and Democrats, "a real interest in moving this and moving it quickly."

Funding the fight against ISIS: The Pentagon needs $5.6 billion to help fight the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), after President Obama recently approved sending 1,500 more U.S. troops to Iraq.

Expiring tax breaks: About 60 individual and corporate tax breaks expired at the end of 2013. It seems likely they could make a few of them permanent, and extend many of the rest through 2015.

Terrorism risk insurance: After the 9/11 attacks, Congress implemented a terrorism risk insurance program known as TRIA. It was designed to provide a government backstop in case of a terrorist attack causing more than $100 million in damage. That expires this year, and the Senate passed a bill extending the program--which is crucial to U.S. companies, especially those related to construction or real estate. The House has not acted yet--there are a few in the House who dislike TRIA because they believe it constitutes government interference in business, though it may pass a short-term extension during the lame duck.

The Defense Authorization Bill: This piece of legislation, which sets the funding levels for the U.S. military, has been approved every year before Dec. 31 for the past 50 years. Issues likely to come up include the Guantanamo Bay detention center and the A-10 Warthog plane program, which the Pentagon wants to end, but that Congress has kept alive.

Nominations: There are close to 200 nominees waiting to be confirmed, Nolen says. Loretta Lynch, whom the President has selected to replace Eric Holder as attorney general, may soon be among them. Lynch would likely face an easy confirmation before a Democratic senate, but rushing a vote before the end of the year would be a blow to the relationship between Democrats and Republicans, who want her to be considered by the new Congress. A few senate Republicans have already said they will not vote to confirm her unless she disavows President Obama's planned executive actions on immigration. As a two-time former U.S. attorney, Lynch has faced senate confirmation twice, and in both cases was confirmed by acclamation.

Knowing the backlash they would face for bringing up Lynch's nomination before the end of the year, Democrats might try to pass several less-controversial nominations and leave Lynch for the Republican Senate. But there's no guarantee all the others will make it through confirmation.

This is their must-do list. Anything else, Cordes says, "is anyone's guess."