Is the Transition Period Too Long?

[liberalpragmatist]

The transition period has already been shortened once -- until the 20th Amendment, the transition period lasted from November of the election year to March of the next year (6 months).

Still, three months is still a much longer transition period than most countries around the world. Part of the problem is the Electoral College, which doesn't meet and formally elect the president until December. But, especially if we abolished the Electoral College, could we also make the presidential transition period shorter?

I mean, in other countries around the world, governments are sworn in as soon as they're elected. In France, there's a 10-day wait. I don't know that I'd swear a new president in immediately, but why not, say, after 2-3 weeks, with provisions for an acting president to serve for a short time if the presidential election isn't resolved by then (i.e., if there are recounts or some other dispute, for example)?

Right now, we basically have no effective government all while we're going through one of the worst economic crises in our history.

[TahitiNut]

1. It wouldn't be an issue if we'd forced their impeachment and removal.

That 'transition period' would have been fine, just fine.

Impeach. Remove. Indict. Convict. Imprison. (Rinse. Repeat.)

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

2. I like your idea, but I wonder what the logistical complications are

for an effective transition to occur in such a behemoth-sized government like our own. Besides the electoral college, there are appointments, dismissals, and probably some congressional tying of loose ends. And then there's the whole effort of physically moving people and items out of Washington and then installing the newcomers. And all of this would require goodly amounts of coordinated security.

If we could coordinate all of this to be quick-yet-effective (so no one leaves a file cabinet of state secrets sitting on Pennsylvania Avenue or the like) it would be grand to have the new President in before Christmas. I just don't see how it can be done.

[liberalmuse]

3. Oh FUCK yes.

I think many years ago it used to be April of the next year. We need to move it up to December. I wish Bush would step the fuck down already. And so does the rest of the planet, for that matter.

[Warpy]

4. The transition period assumes two administrations

acting in good faith and for the good of the country sharing information about progress and problems in various areas of the government. A three month transition period under such circumstances would ensure a seamless transition from one government to the next.

However, it's far too long in a case such as this, with the outgoing administration acting in bad faith for years and without the good of the country at heart. Even a six week transition period, inadequate between rational administrations, would be too long now.

At least we're not stuck with six extra months of Hoover after four years of bungling after the crash. Our crash has just happened and just being able to change course in three months instead of four years will help the situation enormously.

[aquart]

5. I favor changing the locks on the WH the day after the electoral vote.