20th Amendment - Presidential and Congressional Terms
Franklin Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States whose presidency spanned from March 4, 1933 to April 12, 1945. One of the key events during his presidency was the ratification of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution.

Amendments 11 - 27

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Cause and Reason for the 20th Amendment
The cause or reason for this amendment to the Constitution was to due to the economic disaster of the Great Depression when voters clearly chose the New Deal policies of Franklin Roosevelt over the ineffective policies of President Herbert Hoover. The election was conducted in November but the new President's term in office did not start until March. Herbert Hoover continued as President for these 5 months, referred to as the 'Lame Duck' Presidency. This problem was addressed by shortening the "lame duck" time in the 20th Amendment by moving the inauguration of the President forward by 2 months to take place in January.

20th Amendment Meaning, Explanation and Summary
The meaning of the words and phrases in the 20th Amendment of the Constitution are explained as follows:

20th Amendment: Meaning of the Words of the Amendment

20th Amendment

Explanation & Meaning: These terms are self-explanatory explaining the starting point of presidential terms and those of Representatives and Senators

Section 2.
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.

20th Amendment

In the event of neither the President elect, nor Vice President, have been chosen or fail to qualify then Congress shall decide upon a person who will serve until a president, or vice president, meets the qualifications.

Section 4.
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.

20th Amendment

Meaning: Self-explanatory

Section 6.
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.

20th Amendment: Meaning of the Words of the Twentieth Amendment

Amendments 11 - 27

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21st Amendment

20th Amendment Text - The Twentieth Amendment
The original full text of the 20th Amendment of the Constitution is as follows. Note: Article I, section 4, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of this amendment. In addition, a portion of the 12th amendment was superseded by section 3..

20th Amendment Text

Section 1.
The terms of the President and the Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3rd 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.
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.

Section 3.
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. 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; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President 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.
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.
Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.

Section 6.
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.

20th Amendment - Video of the Presidency of Franklin Roosevelt
The above information provides the text, definition and summary of the 20th amendment. The following Franklin Roosevelt video will give you additional important facts and dates about both the personal life and political life of the 32nd President of the United States whose presidency spanned from March 4, 1933 to April 12, 1945.