U.S. CONSTITUTION

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 103, 25 January 1933, Page 9

U.S. CONSTITUTION

Terms of Congress and

President TWENTIETH AMENDMENT ■ i Washington, Jan. 23. United States politics shook off today the grip of the stage coach era with the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution which proclaims that henceforth - officials defeated at the ballots shall have little voice in Government. In the near record time of less than a year thirty-six States have ratified the “lame duck” amendment. Congress had taken ten years to agree upon proposing it, and it will go into effect on October 15 next, controlling the terms of Congress and President. A message from Jefferson City, Missouri, states that the “lame duck” amendment to the Constitution received the required ratification of thirtysix States when the Missouri House of Representatives approved the measure 5 to-day. Under the amendment Congress elected in November of any year will meet on January 3. A President in November takes office similarly in January. Under the existing system established in 1788, in the December after the November elections the-old Congress full of defeated members comes back and legislates until March 4, when it goes out "and the new President takes office on that date. Unless he calls a special session the new Congress does not meet until next December, thirteen months after its election.