The United States has an electoral system and calendar unlike no other country. The nation votes in November but the new President is inaugurated in January. While many countries swiftly usher in new leaders, the US takes a more measured approach with an 11-week transition period. Although this duration may seem lengthy, it is, in fact, shorter than the four months that the Constitution originally permitted for the transfer of power from an incumbent president to their successor.
Historical context
Federal elections in the US are held on the first Tuesday in November. Initially, states had different election days, but in 1845, a law established a uniform election day nationwide. At the time, the US was predominantly agricultural, and early November proved advantageous for farmers. The harvest would be complete, yet the weather remained good for travel. Certain days were ruled out for voting. Sunday was universally recognised as a day of worship for devout Christians, while Wednesday served as a market day for farmers to sell their produce. In addition, reaching polling places often required travel, even up to a day for those living in rural areas without modern transport. With Sunday and Wednesday unavailable, Monday and Thursday were also eliminated as potential election days. As such, Tuesday emerged as the most suitable choice.
From four months to under three months
The challenges faced during the Great Depression prompted leaders to expedite the swearing-in process for newly elected presidents, reducing the lengthy four-month “lame duck” period to under three months. A “lame duck” refers to an elected official whose successor has already been chosen, leaving them politically weakened.
The 20th Amendment, ratified in 1933, officially moved the inauguration date to January 20, while presidential elections continue to occur in early November.
Logistical considerations
One of the main reasons for this gap is the need for a seamless transition of power. After the election, the president-elect and their team require time to prepare for governance. This includes assembling a cabinet, developing policies and addressing national issues. The time between the election and inauguration allows the incoming administration to lay the groundwork for their agenda.
The extended transition period can also be attributed to the Electoral College system, which determines the president weeks after the popular vote, as opposed to a parliamentary system where the winning party directly assumes power. While this delay means that presidents cannot take office immediately, the winner is granted access to transition funding and can receive essential briefings from the outgoing administration to facilitate a smooth handover.
