President’s Promise

Builders have used 1,363 sheets of plywood to build the inauguration platform this year.

Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, will be an exciting day inwashington, D. C., and around the country. On that day, our country officially welcomes a new president, Joseph R. Biden Jr., and vice president, Kamala Harris.

The U. S. Constitution sets Inauguration Day as Jan. 20. This year’s ceremony will be the 59th inauguration.

The ceremony where the president and vice president are sworn in is called the inauguration

( in- AUG- yur- AY- shun). It takes place on a specially built platform on the

West Front of theu. S.

Capitol.

The theme for the Biden/ Harris inauguration is “Our Determined Democracy: Forging a More Perfectunion.”

A different look

During most inaugurations, hundreds of thousands of people gather on themall in Washington to witness the new president as he or she is sworn in. This year, because of the COVID- 19 pandemic, planners are making changes to the ceremony itself and to other traditional events on that day.

For example, after the swearing- in and the inaugural address, the new president and first lady typically escort the former president and first lady tomarine One, the president’s helicopter. Then the president and vice president traditionally go to Statuary Hall in the Capitol building to enjoy lunch with senators, representatives and other government officials.

Following lunch, past presidents have ridden or walked in a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to thewhite House.

In the evening, the president, first lady and others usually attend many different parties, known as inaugural balls.

Transfer of power

Inaugural planners have a big job this year: trying to keep everyone safe while still celebrating the peaceful transfer of power from one president to another. Until the late 1790s, there were no political parties in theu. S. But in the election of 1800, two parties, the Federalists and the DemocraticRepublicans, competed for the presidency. When Thomas Jefferson, a DemocraticRepublican, won the office, the Federalists accepted it and did not act against him.

Peacefully transferring power between two different political belief systems became an important feature of our democracy.

In 2009, President and Mrs. Obama walk with President George W. Bush and Mrs. Bush to Marine One.

President Donald Trump is sworn in at his inauguration in 2016.

Photo Rep. Norma Torres