The Choice: The 20th Amendment
Changing the dates for the transition to a new Presidential Administration and Congressional Session
Issue #951 The Choice, Friday, October 31, 2025
Every Friday until the end of 2025, we will publish a post about each of the 27 Amendments to the Constitution.
The 20th Amendment was a response to the challenges faced during the transition between the November elections and the new governmental terms in March of the following year. This period, known as the “lame-duck” session, often led to inefficiencies and political stagnation.
Ratified on January 23, 1933, the 20th Amendment, also known as the “Lame Duck Amendment,” aimed to address these issues by:
Setting New Dates: It moved the inauguration of the President and Vice President from March 4 to January 20, and the commencement of Congress from March 4 to January 3. These changes significantly reduced the lame-duck period, enabling newly elected officials to assume office sooner and enabling a more effective, timely transition of power.
Clarifying Succession: The amendment outlines procedures for presidential succession, providing a constitutional framework for situations where the President-elect dies before taking office. It empowers Congress to legislate on these matters, ensuring stability and continuity in governance.
Reducing Dysfunctional Sessions: By establishing clear timelines for the start of congressional sessions, the 20th Amendment curtailed the potential for outgoing officials to pass last-minute, potentially self-serving legislation.
Our Choice: After every presidential election in American History, starting with President George Washington stepping down after two terms, there has been a “peaceful transfer of power” from one administration to the next. Until Trump.
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