Video: 'The 20th Amendment Explained: The Lame Duck'

(Monday, January 23, 1933, 10:01 a.m. CST) — The Twentieth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which moved the beginning and ending of the terms of the president and vice president from March 4 to January 20, and of members of Congress from March 4 to January 3, was adopted today when Missouri became the 36th state to ratify it, satisfying the required three-fourths approval of the then-existing 48 states.

The amendment reduced the presidential transition and the “lame duck” period, by which members of Congress and the president serve the remainder of their terms after an election.

Video: 'Summary of 20th Amendment'

The amendment established congressional terms to begin before presidential terms and that the incoming Congress, rather than the outgoing one, would hold a contingent election if the Electoral College deadlocked regarding either the presidential or vice presidential elections.

It also has provisions that determine what is to be done when there is no president-elect.