SENATE APPROVES JANUARY INAUGRATION OF PRESIDENT & VP
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On February 13, 1923, the United States senate approved the (George) Norris* amendment to the Constitution which would "eliminate the present session of an old Congress after election of a new Congress and change the date of inauguration of President from March 4 to the third Monday in January."
The Evening Star, speculating that the amendment will face a tough go in the House, reports that the amendment "is probably the first proposed change in the constitution to be approved by the Senate after coming out of any committee other than judiciary**."
JFK+50 NOTE
The Norris amendment did not pass the House of Representatives in 1923, but on March 2, 1932 the Congress passed the 20th Amendment which was ratified in 1933.
The 20th amendment provides that the new Congress will begin on January 3rd & the President & Vice-President will be inaugurated on January 20th.
The amendment shortened the period of time between the presidential election in November and the inauguration from four months to two and a half months. This period is generally referred to as 'lame duck.'
*George William Norris (1861-1944) was born near Clyde, Ohio & served in the US House of Representatives (R-Nebraska) 1903-1913 & Senate 1913-1943. GWN is the namesake of Norris Dam in East TN & planner of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). He was the 1st to be inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame.
**The amendment was reported out of the Agriculture Committee of which George W. Norris was chairman.
SOURCES
"January Congress and Inauguration Given Senate O.K.," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., February 13, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
"George W. Norris: U.S. Legislator," Nebraska Public Media, www.nebraskastudies.org/
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