Jonah Patel
The date fixed as Inauguration Day in the US Constitution was initially March 4, the anniversary of the Constitution first taking effect in 1789. However, this was changed to January 20 following the ratification of the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution in 1933, with Inauguration Day first falling on this date in 1937. The Twentieth Amendment specifies that the term of each elected US President begins at noon on January 20 of the year following the election. The only constitutionally required procedure for Inauguration Day is the presidential oath of office, which may be taken anywhere and at any time before the new president's term begins.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date fixed as Inauguration Day | 20th of January (or 21st of January if the 20th falls on a Sunday) |
| First Inauguration Day | 30th of April, 1789 |
| Inauguration Day before 1937 | 4th of March |
| Time | Noon |
| Location | U.S. Capitol building in Washington, DC |
| Ceremony | Swearing-in ceremony, inaugural address, and pass in review |
| Organizer | Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) |
| Architect | Architect of the Capitol (AOC) |
| Oath of Office | "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." |
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What You'll Learn
Inauguration Day was moved to January 20 in 1937
The Twentieth Amendment to the US Constitution, proposed by Congress in 1932 and ratified in 1933, changed Inauguration Day from March 4 to January 20, beginning in 1937. The amendment also specifies that the term of each elected US president begins at noon on January 20 of the year following the election.
The move to January 20 was made to shorten the lengthy transition period between Election Day and Inauguration Day. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, the four-month gap between the two events served a purpose, allowing the president-elect time to settle their affairs and travel to the nation's capital. However, this lengthy lame-duck period could also be a liability for the nation during times of crisis, such as the Civil War and the Great Depression. With improvements in transportation and communication in the 20th century, it was no longer necessary to have such a long transition period.
The first president to be inaugurated on January 20 was Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was sworn in for his second term in 1937. Since then, Inauguration Day has taken place on January 20 every four years, with a few exceptions. If January 20 falls on a Sunday, the presidential oath of office is administered in a private ceremony on that day, followed by a public ceremony the next day, on January 21. This Sunday exception has occurred on three occasions since 1937: in 1957, 1985, and 2013.
The only constitutionally required procedure for Inauguration Day is the presidential oath of office, which may be taken anywhere and at any time before the new president's term officially begins at noon on January 20. The oath is typically administered by the chief justice of the United States, though this is not a constitutional requirement. Other Inauguration Day traditions include the swearing-in ceremony, the inaugural address, and the pass in review.
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The Twentieth Amendment changed the date
Before the Twentieth Amendment, Inauguration Day was always March 4, the anniversary of the Constitution first taking effect in 1789. The first inauguration of George Washington took place on April 30, 1789, and subsequent inaugurations from 1793 until 1933 were held on March 4. The exception to this was when March 4 fell on a Sunday, in which case the ceremony was held on March 5.
Since 1937, Inauguration Day has been held at noon Eastern Time on January 20, which is the first day of the new term. The first time January 20 fell on a Sunday was in 1957, and the presidential oath of office was administered privately on that day, with a public ceremony taking place the next day, on January 21. This pattern was repeated in 1985 and 2013.
The Twentieth Amendment specifies that the term of each elected President of the United States begins at noon on January 20 of the year following the election. Each president must take the oath of office before assuming the duties of the position. The vice president takes the oath before the president, and it is a bit longer, as specified in a federal statute.
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The date was previously March 4
The date for Inauguration Day in the United States was previously March 4, from 1793 until 1933. This was the anniversary of the Constitution first taking effect in 1789, when the federal government began operations. The first inauguration, that of George Washington, took place on April 30, 1789, after an eight-week delay caused by a particularly harsh winter.
The March 4 date was not always strictly adhered to. In years when March 4 fell on a Sunday, the public inauguration ceremony would be postponed until the following day, March 5. This occurred on four occasions: in 1821, 1849, 1877, and 1917.
The Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution, proposed by Congress in 1932 and ratified in 1933, changed the date of Inauguration Day to January 20, the first day of the new term. This amendment was passed to shorten the period between the election and inauguration, which had been a liability for the nation in times of crisis, such as the Civil War and the Great Depression. Since 1937, Inauguration Day has been held on January 20, except when falling on a Sunday, in which case it is moved to the next day, January 21. This occurred in 1957, 1985, and 2013.
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The new date shortens the gap between Election and Inauguration Day
The date of the US presidential inauguration was changed from March 4 to January 20 following the ratification of the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution in 1933 (which came into effect in 1937). This shortened the gap between Election Day and Inauguration Day, reducing the lame-duck period.
Prior to this amendment, there was a gap of about four months between Election Day and Inauguration Day. This served a purpose in the 18th and 19th centuries, allowing the president-elect time to settle their affairs and travel to the nation's capital. However, this lengthy transition period also had disadvantages, particularly during times of crisis such as the Civil War and the Great Depression. For example, incoming President Franklin D. Roosevelt had to wait four months to implement his New Deal, causing further uncertainty in the financial markets.
With improvements in transportation and communication in the 20th century, the case for shortening the transition period became stronger. The Twentieth Amendment was thus proposed by Congress in 1932 and ratified by the states in 1933. The amendment also defines a backup procedure in the event that a president-elect dies or has not been chosen by Inauguration Day.
The new date of January 20 means there is now a gap of about 11 weeks between Election Day and Inauguration Day. This is still a relatively long lame-duck period compared to other countries, where a newly elected leader often takes power within a couple of weeks, or even the day after an election.
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The oath of office is the only constitutionally required procedure
The Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution specifies that the term of each elected US president begins at noon on January 20 of the year following the election. Inauguration Day was moved to this date in 1937, and it has remained so since.
The only constitutionally required procedure for the US president is the oath of office, as mandated by the United States Constitution in Article II, Section One, Clause 8. The president-elect can take the oath anywhere, with anyone in attendance who can legally witness an oath, and at any time before the beginning of the new president's term. The oath is as follows:
> "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
The Constitution does not specify what the swearing-in must include. While most presidents have chosen a Bible, some have not used one, and others have used multiple Bibles. The vice president is sworn in during the same ceremony as the president, and the vice president's oath is administered immediately before the president's.
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Frequently asked questions
March 4, the anniversary of the Constitution first taking effect in 1789.
Inauguration Day changed to January 20 in 1937, following the ratification of the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution.
If January 20 falls on a Sunday, a private swearing-in ceremony occurs on that day, and the public oath of office is taken on January 21.
