President's Day

President's Day Passages

Multiple Choice

The Founding Fathers of the United States did not want the president to rule forever. The Founders did not want the president to be like a king. Kings served forever. The Founders did not want a king to rule the country. They wanted the people to rule the country.

In the end, the Founders decided presidents would serve for four years. They may also be reelected once. The rule was written into the Constitution. Soon after, Congress decided to make Inauguration Day on March 4. It was on March 4 for 148 years.

Which sentence from the section explains WHY the Founders gave the president a limited time in power?

• The Founders did not want the president to be like a king.

• In the end, the Founders decided presidents would serve for four years.

• They may also be reelected once.

• The rule was written into the Constitution.

Multiple Choice

Did A Transfer Of Power Take Too Long? Lawmakers questioned the March 4 date. They thought it was too late. Lawmakers and presidents were elected in November. Inauguration Day was not until four months later. During that time, the old Congress could keep making laws. The old president still had power. The president in this situation is called a lame-duck president. The Congress is called a lame-duck Congress.

Senator George W. Norris believed the lame-duck Congress was unfair. Americans had chosen new lawmakers to represent them. The old lawmakers should not keep making laws. Americans did not want them to represent them anymore. The new president also had to wait to deal with the country's problems.

Select the sentence that explains WHY the date of the inauguration was changed.

• Lawmakers and presidents were elected in November.

• The president in this situation is called a lame-duck president.

• The old lawmakers should not keep making laws.

• Congress passed the 20th Amendment in 1933.

Multiple Choice

Senator George W. Norris believed the lame-duck Congress was unfair. Americans had chosen new lawmakers to represent them. The old lawmakers should not keep making laws. Americans did not want them to represent them anymore. The new president also had to wait to deal with the country's problems.

Norris wanted to make the lame-duck Congress shorter. However, the Constitution had to be changed to do this. Congress had to pass an amendment to the Constitution. Congress passed the 20th Amendment in 1933. It changed Inauguration Day to noon on January 20. Now, the lame-duck Congress would only last about two and a half months.

According to the section, WHY did the Constitution need to be changed?

• because the president who lost the election was still in power

• because lawmakers wanted to move Inauguration Day

• because the lame-duck Congress lasted for 2 1/2 months

• because people did not know what would happen in the election

Multiple Choice

The 20th Amendment changed the date of Inauguration Day. The new amendment also explained what would happen if the new president died before Inauguration Day. The new vice president would become president.

It also explained what would happen if Congress had to decide the election. This can happen if there are problems counting votes. It can also happen if the new president does not meet the requirements to be president. Congress would pick the new president. The new vice president becomes the president until Congress decides. It is possible the vice president cannot do the job. Then, Congress chooses someone else to be president until it has made a decision.

How can Congress affect the election?

• Congress has the power to change the date of the inauguration.

• Congress decides the election if problems occur in counting votes.

• Congress has the job of choosing the new vice president.

• Congress sets the end of the term after a president loses an election.