When is inauguration held

He traveled by coach and on horseback through Baltimore, Wilmington, and Philadelphia, finally arriving in New York City aboard a grand barge that had been rowed from New Jersey across Newark Bay. Meanwhile John Adams, his Vice President-elect, and the Congress were deciding what the new Chief Executive's official title should be. Adams preferred "His Most Benign Highness," but a congressional committee settled on the title we still use today: "President of the United States.

Inauguration Day, April 30, began with the sounds of ceremonial artillery and church bells ringing across the city. At noon, General Washington made his way through large crowds to Federal Hall, where both houses of Congress were assembled for swearing-in.

New York Chancellor Robert Livingston read the oath, and Washington, his right hand on a Bible, repeated the words inscribed in the Constitution: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. The First Inauguration gave rise to many traditions that continue today.

For example, President Washington followed his swearing-in with an Inaugural Address, a special speech written for the occasion.

In , the oath of office for Washington's second term was administered by William Cushing, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and the first in a long line of Supreme Court Justices to preside over Presidential Inaugurations. Thomas Jefferson was the first to be sworn in as President in Washington, D. Jefferson showed his taste for simplicity by going on foot to the Capitol for the oath-taking and returning to his boardinghouse afterwards for dinner.

Jefferson's second Inauguration also began the tradition of the Inaugural Open House, when the executive mansion was opened to all who wished to greet the President after his swearing-in.

The popularity of the Open House would later cause our seventh President, Andrew Jackson, to flee through a window after a mob of well-wishers stormed the White House, ruining furniture and breaking china in their eagerness to see him. For instance, in , President Barack Obama celebrated his second inauguration on Monday January Inaugural ceremonies usually take place where Congress meets. Since Adams, all regular inaugurations have taken place at the Capitol.

One exception is the fourth inauguration of President Franklin Roosevelt in That year, President Roosevelt was inaugurated at the White House.

Exceptional inaugurations, which usually take place because of the death or incapacitation of a sitting president, have taken place in different locations and various dates since the first such case, when John Tyler was inaugurated at a hotel in Washington, D.

Here is a chronological overview of what traditions and ceremonies a typical inauguration day entails: Worship Service : Almost all U. The tradition of attending a worship service on the morning of inauguration day was started by Franklin D. Roosevelt, who attended services on the morning of his first swearing-in in Procession to the Capitol : After the worship service, the president-elect, vice president-elect and their spouses are accompanied to the White House by members of the JCCIC.

The elected officials then take a car or limousine to the Capitol. Oaths of Office : The vice-president-elect is sworn in first. The presidential oath of office is traditionally administered by the chief justice of the United States. With some exception, most presidents have taken the oath of office with their hand on a Bible.

Some presidents use a family Bible, such as President Bill Clinton, who used the Bible given to him by his grandmother. Other presidents choose historic Bibles. For both of his inaugurations, President Obama used the so-called Lincoln Bible, which President Abraham Lincoln used at his first inauguration in Some presidents have not taken the oath of office on Inauguration Day, usually because of a national tragedy.

For example, President Lyndon Johnson was sworn in by U. District Court Judge Sarah T. Inaugural Address : Every president has delivered an inaugural address —a speech outlining his vision for the country.

Inaugural Luncheon : After the oath of office has been taken, the JCCIC plays host to the new president and vice-president at a luncheon at the Capitol. Inaugural Parade : The most festive part of Inauguration Day is probably the inaugural parade, in which the president, vice-president, and their families walk or ride down Pennsylvania Avenue, from the Capitol to the White House.

Although this order of inauguration festivities is a time-honored American tradition, with some elements dating back to George Washington, in extraordinary times, traditions can shift. In , the inauguration of President Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris diverged significantly from the norm, as large portions of the public festivities were altered due to health concerns around the COVID pandemic as well as safety concerns due to threats of political insurrection from supporters of the outgoing administration.

Inaugural addresses sometimes have themes. Answers will vary! Many issues, such as immigration and concerns about the environment, are considered both domestic and foreign-policy issues. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day. Section 3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President.

If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.

The Constitution stipulates the oath of office for the President of the United States to be sworn during the inauguration. Kennedy vols. Currently on sabbatical.