Presidential and congressional terms don't start/end the same day
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  Presidential and congressional terms don't start/end the same day
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Author Topic: Presidential and congressional terms don't start/end the same day  (Read 1149 times)
Sir Mohamed
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« on: December 03, 2015, 09:25:16 AM »

I always wondered why the presidential and congressional terms do not begin or end on the exact same day. Congress constitutes on January 3, while the president takes office on January 20. What's the purpose for it?

A theory: That the new congress elects the president and vice president in the case of a EC deadlock? But before 1933, both terms begun/ended on March 4.
And it's the same in some states: Here in California, the terms for state lawmakers begin in December, while the governor is sworn in January. Why isn't it the same date?
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Clark Kent
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« Reply #1 on: December 03, 2015, 11:25:12 AM »

Maybe it's to keep the entire government from being decapitated in case of an emergency?
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Del Tachi
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« Reply #2 on: December 03, 2015, 03:10:41 PM »

By 1933 presidential inaugurations had become quite a big deal, so for logistical purposes it makes sense to not have the inauguration of Congress coincide with the President's.  Way too much for the Capitol to handle in one day.

Also, it ensures that by the time the new President is inaugurated that a new Congress would have had plenty of time to work-out any leadership disputes and acclimate its new membership.  In cases where the new Congress was supportive of the President-Elect's agenda (like in 2009), it also means that the President could be able to sign key pieces of his legislative agenda by his first week in office (e.g. Lily Ledbetter Act).
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True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)
Ernest
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« Reply #3 on: December 03, 2015, 10:53:31 PM »

Also, in theory, an incoming president could submit his cabinet and other high level officers to the Senate for confirmation so that they could take office when he does, tho I don't think that's ever happened.
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Sir Mohamed
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« Reply #4 on: December 04, 2015, 07:02:20 AM »

Also, in theory, an incoming president could submit his cabinet and other high level officers to the Senate for confirmation so that they could take office when he does, tho I don't think that's ever happened.

Sounds reasonable. And the same in the states?

It's interesting because an old chief executive (prez or gov), who is defeated for reelection but whose party maintained a majority, could sign controversal bills of the new legislature into law.

That happend in the 2014 midterms in IL (Dem. Gov. Quinn defeated but Dems maintained majority) and PA (GOP Gov. Corbett defeated, but GOP increased (sic!) majority).
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Gary J
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« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2015, 08:58:47 AM »

I think the idea was that if Congress had to hold a contingent election for President or Vice President (if the Electoral College had not produced a majority winner), it would be a newly elected Congress rather than one about to expire that performed the task. This may be unlikely to happen, in modern conditions, but it seems a sensible precaution. 
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