Presidential Inauguration

George Washington took the first presidential oath on April 30, 1789, on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York. Inaugurations were held on March 4 until the Twentieth Amendment, ratified in 1933, moved the start of the term to noon on January 20, beginning with Franklin Roosevelt's second inauguration in 1937. When January 20 falls on a Sunday, the oath is usually taken privately that day and repeated publicly on Monday. Since 1981 the public ceremony has usually been held on the West Front of the Capitol.

The only legal requirement is the 35-word oath in Article II, in which the President swears or affirms to faithfully execute the office and to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. By tradition the Chief Justice administers it, and the Vice President takes a separate oath first. The ceremony is planned by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, while a private inaugural committee formed by the President-elect organizes the parade, balls, and other events and raises money for them. The transition leading up to the inauguration is governed by the Presidential Transition Act of 1963.

Inaugurations symbolize the peaceful transfer of power, and the outgoing President traditionally attends, a custom broken in 1869 and again in 2021. On January 20, 2025, extreme cold moved the ceremony indoors to the Capitol Rotunda for the first time since 1985, and the inaugural committee raised a record sum from donors, which drew scrutiny of corporate and individual contributions. Supporters say the pageantry and the oath reinforce constitutional continuity, while critics say inaugural fundraising gives donors a way to seek access to a new administration.