From the time of the Framing until 1933, the terms of Presidents, Senators, and Representatives all began on 4 March of the year after the election.
As Federal election dates standardized on 2-8 November, this meant a very long "lame- duck" period. A Congress (and all Representives) was "lame-duck" for 1/6 of its duration; a President for 1/12 of his term.
At the time of the Framing, a long lame-duck period was necessary, as travel and from many parts of the United States to the capital took several weeks.
By the mid 1800s, however, the development of steamboats and railroads had eliminated this problem. Even the Pacific Coast was within a week's travel after the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869.
The problems caused by a long lame-duck period were shown in 1861, when Lincoln had to watch helplessly as the secession crisis developed. (Though to be sure, five Deep South states had declared secession before 20 January, when the President's term now begins.)
Suppose that in the wake of the Civil War, an Amendment had been proposed to move the end/start of terms up to 4 January for Congress and 20 January, as was eventually done in 1933 by the 20th Amendment?
Would such an amendment have any chance of ratification?
Could such an amendment be proposed at other times before 1933?
If ratified, what effects would it have?
The effect in 1933 would be obvious - FDR's bank holiday could start that much sooner, as would the rest of his immediate New Deal measures. But what about other years?
As Federal election dates standardized on 2-8 November, this meant a very long "lame- duck" period. A Congress (and all Representives) was "lame-duck" for 1/6 of its duration; a President for 1/12 of his term.
At the time of the Framing, a long lame-duck period was necessary, as travel and from many parts of the United States to the capital took several weeks.
By the mid 1800s, however, the development of steamboats and railroads had eliminated this problem. Even the Pacific Coast was within a week's travel after the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869.
The problems caused by a long lame-duck period were shown in 1861, when Lincoln had to watch helplessly as the secession crisis developed. (Though to be sure, five Deep South states had declared secession before 20 January, when the President's term now begins.)
Suppose that in the wake of the Civil War, an Amendment had been proposed to move the end/start of terms up to 4 January for Congress and 20 January, as was eventually done in 1933 by the 20th Amendment?
Would such an amendment have any chance of ratification?
Could such an amendment be proposed at other times before 1933?
If ratified, what effects would it have?
The effect in 1933 would be obvious - FDR's bank holiday could start that much sooner, as would the rest of his immediate New Deal measures. But what about other years?