The United States Presidential Inauguration

By: Max Cannon

On January 20^th, 2017 at noon EST, President-elect Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45^th President of The United States of America as part of the inaugural process. Though President Trump has made some small changes to the process to cater to his specific inauguration, the inaugural ceremony has been mostly untouched for the past 35 years. 

The History of Inauguration Day

The first inauguration dates all the way back to April 30, 1789 and began right back with our very first president, George Washington. Starting in 1937, all inaugurations were to happen on January 20th. In the event that the 20th falls on a Sunday then the president will be inaugurated in private and a public inauguration will follow on Monday the 21st. 

Most inaugurations have held their public events at the Capitol Building and starting with Ronald Reagan in 1981 the event was held outside on the western side of the building - an unsubstantiated rumor had started that Reagan had requested the move so he could be sworn in while facing his home state of California. 

The Process of The Inaugural Ceremony

The inaugural ceremony will begin about thirty minutes before noon and our country's Chief Justice will swear in the new leaders, for reference in 2016 our Chief Justice is John G. Roberts Jr.  Both the new president and vice-president are sworn in under the oath of office, one of the only ceremonial events in inauguration day that is required in the Constitution. The oath is as follows:

"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. So help me God."

Following the swearing in/oath our new leaders will deliver their inaugural address, their first public address after officially having taken the position following the peaceful transfer of power. 

Afterwards, it's nothing but celebration.

A parade will be lead by our new president and vice-president as they ride down Pennsylvania Avenue alongside hundreds, if not thousands, of military personnel. Then the day concludes with an pair of inaugural balls, think of them as Homecoming dances, and a similar one for Armed Forces will happen just down the street.

Have Your Say!

What do you think of the inaugural process? Did you watch it live? Share your thoughts below!