Inauguration Day Changed From March To January
The 20th amendment didn t.
Inauguration day changed from march to january. Nicknamed the lame duck amendment it moved the inauguration date from march 4th to january 20th. But it wasn t until his second inauguration as president that the traditions began to take root. The 20th amendment to the u. 20 george washington then a 57 year old general was sworn in on a clear and cool day from the balcony of the federal hall in new york on april 30 1789.
January 20 inauguration day. Since 1937 it has taken place at noon est on january 20 the first day of the new term some 72 to 78 days after the presidential election except for three occasions when january 20 fell on a sunday. 4 to january 20 in its first section. It also has provisions that determine what is to be done when there is no president elect.
The original day of inauguration for both presidents and vice presidents used to be march 4 but the date was pushed up to january with the passing of the 20th amendment to the constitution. 23 1933 and set the terms of the president and the vice president as ending at noon on the 20th day of january roosevelt s first inauguration was march 4 1933. Those deadlines can be changed in the event of a state recount if there is an extremely close result. The 20th amendment to the constitution was approved by congress march 2 1932 before hoover left office.
If the president elect dies between election day and. His second inauguration was jan. The amendment also changed the opening date of a new congress to january 3rd thereby eliminating extended lame duck congressional sessions. Inauguration day wasn t always on jan.
The twentieth amendment amendment xx to the united states constitution moved the beginning and ending of the terms of the president and vice president from march 4 to january 20 and of members of congress from march 4 to january 3. On january 23 1933 congress ratified the 20th amendment which changes the date from mar. The terms of the president and vice president shall end at noon.