The Twentieth Amendment

The Twentieth Amendment:

Section 1.

The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.

Section 2.

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 elect 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.

Section 4.

The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.

Section 5.

Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.

Section 6.

This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states within seven years from the date of its submission.

This amendment sets the term date and length, for the President and Vice-President, as well as Congressing meetings.  If the President were to die or temporarily recess from his position, the amendment states that the Vice-President would replace or fill in at that time.  This is all important, because it is a concrete point of reference.  It is essential for U.S. citizens to understand the role of both the President and Vice-President. 

This video is very clear and to the point.  It states that the 20th amendment is also known as "The Lame Duck Amendment."  The "Lame Duck Period," is when the new President ahs been elected in November, but the current President is still in office until March. This transitional period is important to the current and new president, but also for the U.S. to shift into a new rein of presidency.  

Though this image is exaggerated, I still think it captures a unique perspective on the "Lame Duck Period." I always enjoy listening to the farewell address and inaugural address, for the incoming and outgoing president.  It gives an overview of their time as president, and/or address goals they wish to meet during their presidency.