THE United States Constitution is the supreme law of the US, ratified in September 1787.
The 20th Amendment is part of 27 included in the US Constitution that protects the rights of Americans.
What is The 20th Amendment?
The 20th Amendment moved the beginning and ending of the terms of the president and vice president in the US.
The dates changed from March 4 to January 20.
The Amendment also moved the dates for members of Congress from March 4 to January 3.
Commonly known as the “Lame Duck Amendment,” the 20th Amendment was designed to remove the excessively long period of time a defeated president or member of Congress would continue to serve after their failed bid for reelection.
Critics argued that because the defeated lawmakers were voted out of office, they would serve as lame ducks, incapable of effectively representing their constituents or affecting public policy.
The amendment also provided for the vice president-elect to become president if a president-elect died before taking the oath of office.
It also has provisions that determine what is to be done when there is no president-elect.
When was the 20th Amendment adopted?
The Amendment was proposed by Senator George W. Norris, of Nebraska, on March 2, 1932.
The Amendment was officially adopted on January 23, 1933, after 36 states, three-fourths of the then-existing 48 states, ratified it.
Who was the first president to be affected by the 20th Amendment?
The first members of Congress to open its first session and begin its terms on the new date was the 74th Congress in 1935.
The first presidential and vice presidential terms to begin on the date appointed by the 20th Amendment were the second terms of President Franklin D Roosevelt and Vice President John Nance Garner, on January 20, 1937.
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