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Happy birthday, 20th and 24th Amendments
A poll tax receipt from Louisiana. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Today we celebrate the ratification of not one, but two constitutional amendments: the 20th Amendment (ratified January 23, 1933) and the...
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March 4: A forgotten huge day in American history
In the 21st century, the American political world revolves around a handful of key dates. But prior to 1933, March 4 was the biggest day on the calendar next to Election Day. Andrew Jackson’s 1829...
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Should Congress really be allowed to work at home full time?
For the second time, a member of Congress is proposing rule changes that would let lawmakers telecommute to Washington and pass laws without meeting face to face. But is that in the best interests of...
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The forgotten man who almost became president after Lincoln
On April 15, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln died from his assassin’s wounds. But if John Wilkes Booth’s plot were entirely successful, a little-known senator may have been thrust into the White House....
View Article20th Amendment: Presidential Term and Succession, Assembly of Congress
Full Text of the 20th Amendment Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d...
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20th Amendment: Presidential Term and Succession
As part of the National Constitution Center’s 27 Amendments (In 27 Days) project, each day we will look at a constitutional amendment. Through partnerships with leading scholars and universities,...
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Five little-known men who almost became president
What do Benjamin Wade, Willie P. Mangum and John Nance Garner all have in common? If not for a last-second decision, or a twist of fate, they might have become Acting President of the United States,...
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A historical first and last – FDR’s final inauguration
The Constitution now sets January 20th as inauguration day every four years, but it was 70 years ago today that a historical first – and last occurred: The inauguration of a U.S. President to a fourth...
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How the 20th Amendment made lame-duck sessions less lame
One of the most important, but least discussed, constitutional amendments made government more responsive by greatly shorting the time outgoing elected officials have a role in passing laws. A...
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10 people who very nearly became President
On Presidents Day 2015, Constitution Daily looks at two “what if” scenarios that would have given us 10 different Presidents through history. What factor would have given us Samuel Tilden, Willie...
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