Inauguration Day

The capitol on Inauguration Day

Since 1937, January 20th has been Inauguration Day in the years when there've been Presidential elections. The only exceptions have been when January 20th fell on a Sunday. Then, the inauguration is held on Monday, January 21st. This marks the first official day of the new presidency.

Donald Trump takes the oath of office

Saying the oath of office is the only part of the ceremony mandated by the United States Constitution. However, it's become a tradition for the chief justice to administer the oath. And since Ronald Reagan, the ceremony has been held on the west side of the United States Capitol building, facing the National Mall with the Washington Monument easily visible and the Lincoln Memorial in the distant background. Franklin D. Roosevelt's inauguration in 1945 was the last regularly scheduled inauguration not to take place at the Capitol. 

Maya Angelou at Clinton's inauguration

Other events have also become common parts of the celebration. This might include special speakers, parades, dinners, balls, or other social gatherings. Of course, the ceremony itself is a heavily covered media event with major television networks and cable news channels broadcasting it live. Part of the history of this day, January 20th, then, includes the history of Inauguration Day.

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Over the years, various traditions have arisen that have expanded the inauguration from a simple oath-taking ceremony to a day-long event, including parades and multiple social gatherings. The ceremony itself is carried live via the major U.S. commercial television and cable news networks; various ones also stream it live on their websites.