2009 Presidential Inauguration Event Schedule

The 56th quadrennial Presidential Inauguration will take place on January 20, 2009. It will mark the end of one period in our history, and the beginning of a new one. Inauguration Day was originally held on March 4, which coincided with the last day of the congressional session. However, in 1937, the 20th amendment to the Constitution dictated that it be moved to January 20. The day will be jammed packed with fun, and sometimes, formal, events, which Americans want to be a part of.

The traditional days schedule is as follows:
Morning Worship Service
Procession to the Capitol
Vice Presidents Swearing-In Ceremony
Presidents Swearing-In Ceremony
Inaugural Address
Inaugural Luncheon
Inaugural Parade
Inaugural Ball

Morning Worship Service
While religion has always played a part in inaugurations, the precedent was set in 1933, with the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt. On March 4 of that year, Roosevelt and his wife attended service at St. Johns Episcopal Church. Since then, each President-elect has attended a worship service of his choice.

Procession to the Capitol
Following the morning worship service, the President-elect, the outgoing President, the Vice President-elect, the outgoing Vice President, along with family and cabinet members, proceed together to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremonies.

This tradition began, and has endured (with few exceptions), in 1837, with the inauguration of Martin Van Buren. In fact, the Inaugural Parade, which now takes place later in the day, originally began as this procession. While the procedures for the procession have changed a little since, it has gone on every inauguration since then, with the exceptions of President Lincolns 2nd inauguration in 1865, and in 1869 with outgoing President Andrew Jackson.

Vice Presidents Swearing-In Ceremony
The Vice President-elect will take his oath of office on the Inaugural platform before the President-elect. The United States Constitution only states that the Vice President and other government officials should take an oath upholding it, but it does not specify the form. Despite that, the current oath has been used since 1884, and it reads:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

Presidents Swearing-In Ceremony
The first Inauguration of George Washington was held on April 30, 1789 in New York. By 1801, the United States government was based in Washington, D.C. So President-elect Thomas Jefferson took his oath of office in the Senate chambers. Andrew Jacksons inauguration in 1829 was the first held in front of the Capitol, and barring some exceptions, it has taken place there ever since.

The President-elect takes his oath of office, which is stipulated in the United States Constitution: Article II, Section 1. It reads:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Inaugural Address
Following the Swearing-In Ceremony, the new President delivers his Inaugural Address. Often, Presidents use this to announce their goals for the nation, and to present their vision of the United States of America. Currently, they deliver the Address on the west front of the Capitol, but this did not occur until 1981, with the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan.

Inaugural Luncheon
After the Inaugural Address, the new President goes to Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol for the Inaugural Luncheon, which is hosted by the JCCIC (Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies). The current form of this luncheon was not set until 1953, although a luncheon has been hosted since 1897.

Inaugural Parade
The Inaugural Parade has been a tradition since the first inauguration in 1789, and once again, the first one held in Washington, DC, took place in 1801. 1881 marks the first year that stands were built for visitors, thus allowing regular American citizens, and not just government officials, to view the parade.

While the early parades were simple affairs, they have grown to include floats and marching bands, and other performers, making their way down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.

Inaugural Ball
While there was a ball to honor the first President, George Washington, the current tradition did not begin until 1809, with the inauguration of James Madison. The Inaugural Ball quickly became a highlight of the day, and although there were years during which it was suspended, it has since renewed itself in the spotlight, with the number of guests and the number of balls growing with each decade.

Article Source: http://www.mycontentbuilder.com

About the Author (text)

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated