To the common American citizen, the time between Election Day and Inauguration Day seems like a relaxation interval after all of the power and efforts that went into getting out to vote. However there’s an entire guidelines of to-do’s earlier than the subsequent president is inaugurated. Let’s break down all of the steps that go into the switch of presidential powers into three key phases.
“Planning Part”
Effectively earlier than Election Day, beginning in April or Could, members of the transition staff are assembled. This staff meets with members of Congress, the present administration, the Normal Companies Administration, the Workplace of Authorities Ethics, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Workplace of Personnel Administration to set objectives and put together the plan for transition.
“Transition Part”
After Election Day votes are counted (and recounted if required) and every state certifies their outcomes. Underneath the Electoral Rely Act, all states should meet a deadline during which all votes are counted, disputes are resolved, and the winner of electoral faculty votes is introduced.
Electoral votes are forged on the primary Monday after the second Wednesday in December. Electors meet of their respective states to forged their votes for the President and ship the outcomes to Washington. Earlier than the official counting of electoral votes, the brand new Congress is sworn in at midday on January third.
Per the official information to proceedings on the Senate flooring, “The Senate follows a well-established routine on the opening day of a brand new Congress. The proceedings embrace swearing in Senators elected or reelected in the latest common election (roughly one-third of the Senate) or newly appointed to the convening Senate;
- establishing the presence of a quorum
- adopting administrative resolutions
- adopting standing orders for the brand new Congress
- agreeing by unanimous consent to a date, apart from the convening date, on which payments and joint resolutions could start to be launched
- electing a brand new President professional tempore and a number of Senate officers if there’s a emptiness or a change in get together management.”
The President of the Senate (aka the Vice President) then leads a particular session with members of Congress to depend the electoral votes. There are 538 electoral votes and a candidate should win a minimal of 270. Every vote learn then counted in alphabetical order by two appointees every from the Home and Senate. The President of the Senate broadcasts the tallies and listens for any objections.
Concurrently, the transition staff will get to work inside this 75 day interval. Key actions throughout this time (as outlined within the Presidential Transition Information) embrace “staffing the White Home and companies; deploying company evaluate groups to go to companies; constructing out the president-elect’s coverage and administration agendas and schedule; and figuring out the important thing expertise essential to execute the brand new president’s priorities.”
“Handover Part”
The following President is sworn in at midday on January twentieth. Throughout this part, the brand new administration identifies the President’s high priorities and finalizes workers and appointees that can work to attain these fast objectives. It’s estimated that over 4,000 political appointments will likely be set.
The significance of a peaceable transition
The peaceable transition of powers from the incumbent administration to the incoming administration is an extended standing American custom. When George Washington voluntarily gave up his presidency, it established an unbroken apply of presidents yielding energy after shedding an election.
On a sensible degree, transitioning powers between administrations is critical for the reason that U.S. federal authorities is likely one of the largest organizations. Transferring management on this degree is kind of complicated. With out enough transition — particularly with reference to nationwide safety briefings — the nation’s safety is put in danger.
Symbolically when the president cedes energy after loss, it signifies that the need of the voters really governs the nation. Refusal to concede poses a risk to the arrogance of Americans within the authorities, which is already in query after circumstances of voter suppression and confusion on the significance of voting. A peaceable transition strengthens the individuals’s religion within the democratic course of.
