The U.S. presidential inauguration on January 20 has historical roots and practical reasons behind its timing
Washington: So, you might wonder why the U.S. president is sworn in on January 20. Well, it’s all about history and some practical stuff. After Election Day, there’s an 11-week wait until Inauguration Day. This gap lets the winner chill outside the White House until late January.
Back in the day, this waiting period was even longer. The first January inauguration happened in 1937 with Franklin Roosevelt. Before that, it was on March 4. People were frustrated because they wanted to start tackling issues like the Great Depression sooner.
Now, why not just do it earlier? The U.S. has a unique system with the Electoral College, which meets in December. Congress has to certify the results on January 6, and that’s all laid out in the Constitution. The dates aren’t set in stone, though; they could change if Congress wanted to.
Other countries have quicker transitions. In the U.K., for instance, the new Prime Minister can move in just hours after the old one leaves. Canada has a similar setup, but it’s negotiated. Mexico, on the other hand, has a long wait too, like the U.S. So, while the U.S. has a lengthy transition, it’s all about the laws and traditions that keep Inauguration Day on January 20.
