Inauguration-Day

InaugurationDayInaugurationDayoccursintheUSAonceeveryfouryearsonJanuary20.Itoccursintheyearafterpresidentialelectionshavebeenheld.Thenewtermsofofficeofthepresidentandvice-presidentofficiallybeginatnooninWashingtonDC.•TheheadofstateoftheUSAhasbeenapresidentsince1789.Inthatyear,GeorgeWashingtonwaselectedandinauguratedaspresidentoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica.HewasinauguratedforthefirsttimeonApril30,1789,andforthesecondtimeonMarch4,1793.SubsequentinaugurationswereheldonMarch4untilthesecondinaugurationofPresidentFranklinRooseveltonJanuary20,1937.SincethenInaugurationDayhasbeenheldonJanuary20andthetermofofficeofficiallystartsat12:00noononthatdate.inauguraladdress•Memorablewordshavebeenutteredininauguraladdress.Itisaspeech,lectureofficiallymadebyapersonontakingoffice.•ThecustomofdeliveringanaddressonInaugurationDaystartedwiththeveryfirstInauguration—GeorgeWashington's—onApril30,1789.HissecondInaugurationtookplaceinPhiladelphiaonMarch4,1793,intheSenatechamberofCongressHall.EveryPresidentsinceWashingtonhasdeliveredanInauguraladdress.WhilemanyoftheearlyPresidentsreadtheiraddressesbeforetakingtheoath,currentcustomdictatesthattheChiefJusticeoftheSupremeCourtadministertheoathfirst,followedbythePresident'sspeech.•Today,PresidentsdelivertheirInauguraladdressonthewestfrontoftheCapitol,butthishasnotalwaysbeenthecase.UntilAndrewJackson'sfirstInaugurationin1829,mostPresidentsspokeineithertheHouseorSenatechambers.Presidentialoath•ItisanoathoraffirmationrequiredbytheUnitedStatesConstitutionbeforethePresidentbeginstheexecutionoftheoffice.•BeforeheenterontheExecutionofhisOffice,heshalltakethefollowingOathorAffirmation:—“Idosolemnlyswear(oraffirm)thatIwillfaithfullyexecutetheOfficeofPresidentoftheUnitedStates,andwilltothebestofmyAbility,preserve,protectanddefendtheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates.”