Amendment 20: "Lame duck" session of Congress eliminated. Provisions
for death or disqualification of President-elect or Vice-President elect
Section 1.
A20.1.1 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 day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this
article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.
Section 2.
A20.2.1 The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such
meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law
appoint a different day. Supersedes Article 1, Section 4.3
Section 3.
A20.3.1 If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the
President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President.
A20.3.2 If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the
beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the
Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified;
A20.3.3 and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a
President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall
then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected,
and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall
have qualified.
Section 4.
A20.4.1 The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the
persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President
whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of
the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice
President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.
Section 5.
A20.5.1 Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following
the ratification of this article.
Section 6.
A20.6.1 This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an
amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several
States within seven years from
the date of its submission.
Proposed: March 2, 1932
Ratified: February 6, 1933
for death or disqualification of President-elect or Vice-President elect
Section 1.
A20.1.1 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 day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this
article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.
Section 2.
A20.2.1 The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such
meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law
appoint a different day. Supersedes Article 1, Section 4.3
Section 3.
A20.3.1 If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the
President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President.
A20.3.2 If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the
beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the
Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified;
A20.3.3 and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a
President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall
then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected,
and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall
have qualified.
Section 4.
A20.4.1 The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the
persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President
whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of
the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice
President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.
Section 5.
A20.5.1 Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following
the ratification of this article.
Section 6.
A20.6.1 This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an
amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several
States within seven years from
the date of its submission.
Proposed: March 2, 1932
Ratified: February 6, 1933
| Amendments To The Constitution of the United States of America |
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