After Election Day (November 3), the Electoral College will meet on December 14 to cast their official ballots for president. On January 6, 2021, Congress will meet at 1 pm to count the votes and declare a winner.
The newly elected — or re-elected — President and vice president of the United States begin their term on January 20, and by tradition, take the oath of office during an inauguration on that day. If January 20 falls on a Sunday, the president is sworn-in privately that day, and then again in a public ceremony the next day.
Before 1937, the president’s term of office used to begin on March 4.
The swearing-in ceremony is held at the US Capitol in Washington DC.
When a vice-president assumes the presidency upon the death or resignation of the president, the oath of office is administered to the new president as quickly as possible, to continue work uninterrupted. To date, nine vice presidents have been sworn in this way.
The Constitution does not mandate that anyone in particular should administer the presidential oath of office. Beginning with John Adams, it has been administered by the Chief Justice, except following the death of a sitting president.
