Free Essay Sample: The 20th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States

Free Essay: The 20th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States

Every nation has a unique and effective constitution that governs its operations. A constitution is a set of substantial principles or precedents to which a state or an organization is administrated. Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the USA that defines the national frame of government. The Constitution of the United States has 27 amendments. Among the amendments, there is the 20th amendment to the Constitution of the United States that means a lot to the US government and the citizens in general.

The 20th Amendment of the constitution of the U.S demonstrates the statutes with regard to the terms of services that are undertaken by elected officials with a centralized government. These individuals include the president, vice president and the member of congress. It was passed on March 2nd 1932 and ratified on 23rd January 1933 and answered many questions that were left one-sided in the first constitution of the Unites States of America.

The amendment also offers exceptional guidelines to be adhered to in the situation that there is no president-elect. The 20th amendment to the constitution of the US is divided into six sections. The first four sections contain the elements of the proposed changes in the legislature. The 20th amendment to the constitution of U.S reads as follows;

Section One:

It states that, the terms of the elected president and vice president shall end at noon on the 20th day of January whereas the terms of the senators and representatives shall end at noon on the 3rd day of January of the year when the terms would have ended if this article had not be approved and the terms of the respective successors shall then commence.

Section two:

The congress shall assemble at least once in every year and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3rd day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

Section Three:

If, at a time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.

Section Four:

The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.

Section Five:

Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.

Section Six:

This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission.

There are a number of the effects of the 20th amendment of the constitution of the U.S. this includes bridging the gap between the date of the election and the commencement of work in the new office, it moves presidential inauguration dates from march 4th to January 20th at noon, helps in shooting “lame ducks” and aided in contingency plans.

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Sources:

http://constitution.laws.com/20th-amendment

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twentieth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

http://classroom.synonym.com/effects-constitutions-20th-amendment-20937.html