Inauguration Day

When the Constitution had been ratified by the requisite number of states the Continental Congress by resolution of 13 September 1788, set the first Wednesday of the following March (4 March 1789), as the “time for commencing proceedings’’ under the new form of government and during almost 150 years the Inauguration ceremony took place on this particular date.

The 20th Amendment of the Constitution, proclaimed on 6 February, 1933 and taking effect on 15 October, 1933, fixed the beginning of the terms of office for the President and Vice-President at noon 20 January.

The 20th Amendment is known as the“lame duck’’ amendment because it reduced the “lame duck’’ period* for the outgoing President, enabling the newly elected President More quickly to usher in a new Administration with its newpolicies.

Thus whilst Election day and the day when Electoral College votes depend on the calendar Inauguration always takes place at noonon 20 January. The wording of the President’s oath is also laid down in the Constitution.

The rest is mere tradition. Thus the incumbent President is expected to give a dinner on the eve in honour of the Presldent-Elect and in the morning of the same day to conduct him through the White House.

By 12 o’clock on 20 January the participants of the ceremony and guests take their placeson arostrum especially erected facing the Eastern front of the Capitol. At noon the President-Elect is sworn into office. The President’s Inauguration speech is regarded asa.declaration of principles proclaimed by the new Administration.

The ceremony ends in a military parade. The scope ci the ceremony depends greatly on the tastes and wishes of the new President. It is known that John Kennedy invited large groups of intellectuals and prominent actors and singers. At the time of Nixon’s Inauguration balls, concerts and receptions continued for several days. If this was a great extravagance it was also a tradition. The first Inauguration ball was given by Madison in 1809, when so many people turned up that windows were broken so that guests would not suffocate in the stuffy atmosphere of the ball room.