Malcolm Rivera
The 20th Amendment to the United States Constitution, also known as the Lame Duck Amendment, was proposed by Senator George W. Norris of Nebraska on March 2, 1932, and was ratified in 1933. The amendment moved the beginning and ending of the terms of the president, vice president, and members of Congress from March 4 to January 20 and 3, respectively. It also outlines what to do in the case of a lack of president-elect and establishes that congressional terms begin before presidential terms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of proposal | March 2, 1932 |
| Proposer | Sen. George W. Norris of Nebraska |
| Date of adoption | January 23, 1933 |
| Date of certification | 1933 |
| Section 1 | The terms of the President, Vice President, Senators, and Representatives shall end at noon on January 20, January 3, respectively |
| Section 2 | The Congress shall assemble at least once a year, and the meeting shall begin at noon on January 3 |
| Section 3 | If the President-elect dies before Inauguration Day, the Vice President-elect will be sworn in as President |
| Section 4 | Permits Congress to clarify what should occur if either the House of Representatives must elect the president, and one of the candidates die |
| Section 6 | This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission |
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What You'll Learn
- The Twentieth Amendment was ratified in 1933
- It was proposed by Senator George W. Norris of Nebraska
- The Amendment moved the beginning and end of terms for the president and vice president
- It also moved the beginning and end of terms for members of Congress
- The Amendment provides for the vice president-elect to become president if the president-elect dies before taking office
The Twentieth Amendment was ratified in 1933
The Twentieth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified in 1933. The amendment was proposed by Senator George W. Norris of Nebraska on March 2, 1932, and was certified the following January.
The Twentieth Amendment changed a portion of Article I, Section 4, and a portion of the 12th Amendment. It moved the beginning and ending dates of the terms of the president, vice president, and members of Congress. The terms of the President and Vice President were changed to end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives would end at noon on the 3rd day of January. The amendment established that the terms of their successors would then begin.
The amendment also reduced the presidential transition and the "lame duck" period, during which members of Congress and the president serve the remainder of their terms after an election. The amendment established that congressional terms would begin before presidential terms. It also specified that the incoming Congress, rather than the outgoing one, would hold a contingent election if the Electoral College deadlocked regarding either the presidential or vice-presidential elections.
The Twentieth Amendment also provided for the vice president-elect to become president if a president-elect died before taking the oath of office. This was further refined in the Twenty-fifth Amendment. Additionally, the amendment addressed situations where there was no president-elect or if the president-elect failed to qualify.
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It was proposed by Senator George W. Norris of Nebraska
The 20th Amendment to the United States Constitution was proposed by Senator George W. Norris of Nebraska, a progressive Republican who championed a variety of causes during his long career in Congress. Norris is often remembered as the "father" of the Tennessee Valley Authority, a New Deal program that brought electricity and economic development to the impoverished Tennessee Valley region. However, his proposal of the 20th Amendment, which addressed the start and end dates of congressional and presidential terms, stands as one of his most significant contributions to the nation's constitutional framework.
Norris first introduced a resolution calling for an amendment to change the start date of the presidential term in 1923. At the time, the original time frame as outlined in the Constitution since 1789, stated that the presidential and congressional terms would begin on March 4. However, Norris argued that this created a lengthy "lame-duck" period between a president-elect being chosen and the actual commencement of their term. This gap could potentially hinder effective governance and create a power vacuum.
Norris's proposal suggested moving the start date of the presidential term to January 20 and the congressional term to January 3. This change would reduce the "lame-duck" period and ensure a smoother transition of power. It also aligned with the increasing demands of modern governance, where prompt decision-making and efficient policy implementation were becoming ever more crucial.
The resolution introduced by Senator Norris was passed by Congress and submitted to the states for ratification on March 2, 1932. It was ratified by the requisite number of states and became part of the Constitution on January 23, 1933, just in time for Franklin D. Roosevelt's first inauguration, which took place on the new date of January 20. This amendment stands as a testament to Norris's foresight and his commitment to improving the efficiency and responsiveness of the American political system.
Senator Norris's successful proposal of the 20th Amendment underscores his impact on shaping American political history. His ability to identify a practical issue within the constitutional framework and propose a solution that has endured demonstrates his legislative acumen. The amendment's swift ratification by the states further highlights the importance placed on ensuring a seamless transfer of power, a principle that remains a cornerstone of American democracy.
The legacy of Senator Norris and the 20th Amendment extends beyond the mere changing of dates. It symbolizes the adaptability of the Constitution to the evolving needs of the nation. By addressing a procedural matter, Norris contributed to a more effective and responsive government, ensuring that the voices of the people would be heard and heeded without delay.
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The Amendment moved the beginning and end of terms for the president and vice president
The Twentieth Amendment to the United States Constitution was proposed by Senator George W. Norris of Nebraska on March 2, 1932, and was ratified the following year, on January 23, 1933. The amendment moved the beginning and end of terms for the president and vice president from March 4 to noon on January 20, and for members of Congress from March 4 to January 3.
The Twentieth Amendment also reduced the presidential transition and the "lame duck" period, during which members of Congress and the president serve the remainder of their terms after an election. The amendment established that congressional terms would begin before presidential terms. It also meant that the incoming Congress, rather than the outgoing one, would hold a contingent election if the Electoral College deadlocked regarding either the presidential or vice-presidential elections.
The Twentieth Amendment further refines the Twelfth Amendment by declaring that if the president-elect dies before Inauguration Day, the vice president-elect will be sworn in as president on that day and serve for the full four-year term. It also states that if, on Inauguration Day, a president-elect has not been chosen, or if the president-elect fails to qualify, the vice president-elect would become acting president until a president-elect is chosen or the president-elect qualifies.
The Twentieth Amendment also addresses the scenario in which neither a president nor a vice president has been chosen by Inauguration Day, in which case, Congress may determine who should act as president.
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It also moved the beginning and end of terms for members of Congress
The 20th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified in 1933, and it moved the beginning and end of terms for members of Congress from March 4 to January 3.
Before the 20th Amendment, the Constitution did not specify the exact dates when the terms of federal elected officials would begin or end, only the duration of their terms. The 20th Amendment addressed this by establishing that the terms of Senators and Representatives would end at noon on the 3rd day of January, with the terms of their successors beginning immediately after. This change reduced the "lame-duck" period, during which members of Congress serve the remainder of their terms after an election.
The amendment also established that Congress shall assemble at least once a year, with this meeting taking place at noon on the 3rd day of January unless another date is appointed by law. This provision ensures that Congress meets promptly at the start of each new term.
In addition to these provisions regarding Congress, the 20th Amendment also included several sections pertaining to the presidency and vice presidency. These sections addressed scenarios such as the death or disqualification of the president-elect before taking office, further refining the 12th Amendment's provisions for presidential succession.
Overall, the 20th Amendment played a significant role in clarifying and establishing the beginning and end of terms for members of Congress, as well as addressing various scenarios related to presidential succession.
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The Amendment provides for the vice president-elect to become president if the president-elect dies before taking office
The Twentieth Amendment to the United States Constitution was proposed by Senator George W. Norris of Nebraska on March 2, 1932, and was ratified the following January on January 23, 1933. The amendment moved the beginning and end 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.
The Twentieth Amendment also provides for the vice president-elect to become president if the president-elect dies before taking office. This is outlined in Section 3 of the Amendment, which states that if the president-elect dies before Inauguration Day, the vice president-elect will be sworn in as president and serve for the full four-year term. This provision addresses a gap in the original Constitution, which did not specify what should be done in this situation. This lack of guidance nearly caused constitutional crises on two occasions: during the deadlocked election of 1800 and the disputed election of 1876.
The Amendment also establishes that if a president-elect has not been chosen by the time fixed for the beginning of their term, or if the president-elect fails to qualify, the vice president-elect will act as president until a president qualifies. This provision ensures a smooth transition of power and maintains the continuity of governance.
The Twentieth Amendment, also known as the "Lame Duck" Amendment, was designed to reduce the presidential transition period and the length of time outgoing officials remained in office after an election. In the past, this "lame-duck" period had lasted up to four months, creating potential governance issues. For example, in 1916, during World War I, President Woodrow Wilson devised a plan to avoid a lame-duck presidency and allow his Republican opponent, Charles Evans Hughes, to assume presidential powers immediately if he won the election. Wilson's plan was never implemented, as he was narrowly re-elected. Nonetheless, it highlighted the need for a constitutional amendment to address the issue.
The Twentieth Amendment's provisions regarding the vice president-elect becoming president if the president-elect dies before taking office ensure the continuity of leadership and provide a clear process for handling such a critical situation.
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Frequently asked questions
The 20th Amendment was added to the Constitution on January 23, 1933.
The 20th Amendment moved the beginning and end of the terms of the president, vice president, and members of Congress from March 4 to January 20 and January 3, respectively. It also outlines what to do when there is no president-elect.
The 20th Amendment is commonly known as the Lame Duck Amendment.
The 20th Amendment was proposed by Sen. George W. Norris of Nebraska on March 2, 1932.
The 20th Amendment was proposed on March 2, 1932, and ratified in 1933. It was certified in January 1933, just a few weeks after President-elect Franklin Roosevelt survived an assassination attempt.
