Understanding the 20th Amendment

The 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution primarily altered the timeline for the beginning of congressional and presidential terms, moving them from March 4th to January 3rd and January 20th, respectively. This change was intended to streamline the electoral process and ensure that newly elected Congress members could tally the electoral votes. An additional lesser-known aspect of the amendment addresses scenarios involving the death of presidential candidates. Historical events, particularly those surrounding the elections in 1924, catalyzed discussions about what contingency plans should be put in place for such tragic occurrences.