J. J.
Atlas Superstar
Posts: 32,892
|
 |
« on: February 24, 2006, 05:25:35 PM » |
|
It started at March 4 because it Washington that long to get to New York by horse, after being officially informed. By the late 1800's, the technology was such that anyone elected president could easily get sworn by January 20, even in wartime.
Interestingly, PA local governments (excepting School Boards) have a lame duck period of until the first Monday in January that's not a holiday. These were all created in the 1930's. School Boards, which were greatly modified in the 1960's, has the date as the first week in December.
|
