Amendment1937
First January 20 Inauguration
Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first president inaugurated on January 20, following ratification of the 20th Amendment, which moved Inauguration Day from March 4. The change shortened the period between election and the transfer of power, reducing the time a defeated president remained in office.
Why It Matters
The 20th Amendment modernized the presidential transition process, recognizing that the four-month gap between election and inauguration left the government vulnerable during times of crisis.