GED Social Studies - 20th Amendment
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Important Instructions
Please read and answer 35 Questions carefully within
TIME LIMIT 30 min.
The 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified on January 23, 1933, was designed to reduce the length of time between the election of federal officials and their assumption of office. Prior to its ratification, newly elected presidents and members of Congress had to wait several months before taking office, often referred to as the "lame duck" period. This delay created inefficiencies, especially when an outgoing administration was less effective in dealing with pressing national issues.
The 20th Amendment addresses this by moving the presidential inauguration date from March 4 to January 20 and the start of congressional terms from March 4 to January 3. It also provides guidelines for succession if the president-elect dies before taking office or if neither a president nor vice president has been chosen by the beginning of their terms.
By shortening the lame-duck period, the amendment aims to make the transition of power more efficient and reduce the time an outgoing president or Congress might serve without accountability. The 20th Amendment is considered one of the more practical amendments, streamlining governmental processes and ensuring the continuity of leadership in the United States.
Notable Speeches Related to the 20th Amendment
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Franklin D. Roosevelt - "First Inaugural Address" (1933)
- Context: Roosevelt's address came shortly after the 20th Amendment was ratified, which shortened the time between the presidential election and inauguration, allowing for a quicker response to the Great Depression.
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Speech:
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In such times, swift action is necessary, and the transition of leadership must be equally swift.”
- Full Text: Roosevelt's First Inaugural Address
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Herbert Hoover - "Farewell Address" (1933)
- Context: Hoover's farewell address acknowledged the importance of the 20th Amendment in reducing the "lame-duck" period and ensuring a faster transition of power, particularly important during national crises like the Great Depression.
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Speech:
“In these challenging times, the swift transfer of responsibility, as prescribed by the 20th Amendment, ensures that the country can move forward with renewed leadership and a fresh approach to governance.”
- Full Text: Hoover's Farewell Address
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Harry S. Truman - "State of the Union Address" (1947)
- Context: Truman referenced the 20th Amendment's role in modernizing the presidency and its positive impact on ensuring swift transitions, reflecting on its benefits during his presidency following FDR's sudden death.
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Speech:
“The timely transfer of executive power as set forth in the 20th Amendment has become essential in this fast-moving world, where global events and crises demand immediate attention and action.”
- Full Text: Truman's State of the Union Address
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John F. Kennedy - "Inaugural Address" (1961)
- Context: Kennedy’s speech emphasized the importance of swift governmental action, a principle supported by the 20th Amendment, which aimed to reduce the delay in leadership transition following elections.
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Speech:
“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. The 20th Amendment enables the speed necessary for a changing world.”
- Full Text: Kennedy's Inaugural Address
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Barack Obama - "Inaugural Address" (2009)
- Context: Obama reflected on the smooth transition of power enabled by the 20th Amendment, highlighting the importance of its role in ensuring the government's readiness to face contemporary challenges immediately after an election.
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Speech:
“Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends—hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism—these things are old. The 20th Amendment ensures that the leadership transition necessary to uphold these values is both swift and seamless.”
- Full Text: Obama's Inaugural Address
Aspect | Description |
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Ratification Date | January 23, 1933 |
Main Change | Moved the start of the presidential and congressional terms from March to January, shortening the "lame-duck" period between election and office transition. |
Purpose | To reduce the delay between the election of new officials and their assumption of office, allowing for quicker responses to national issues. |
Presidential Term Start Date | The President's term now begins on January 20th, as opposed to March 4th. |
Congressional Term Start Date | The terms for new members of Congress now begin on January 3rd. |
Lame-Duck Period | Reduced the period during which outgoing officials, who are not re-elected, retain office power, limiting potential inefficiency or unaccountable actions. |
Historical Context | Prompted by concerns about long delays in governance during times of crisis, such as the Great Depression, when quick action was necessary. |
Impact on the Executive Branch | Ensured a quicker transition of power from one president to the next, allowing the new administration to start addressing issues sooner. |
Impact on Congress | Allowed for a more immediate start for newly elected members of Congress, reducing the period of inaction during the early months of the year. |
Amendment to the Constitution | Amended several provisions in Article I and Article II of the U.S. Constitution related to the timing of elections and the commencement of terms in office. |
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