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Inauguration 2021: What happens on the day Biden is sworn in? Inauguration 2021: What happens on the day Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are sworn in?
(1 day later)
Barack Obama's 2008 inauguration reportedly drew some two million people to the celebrations President-elect Joe Biden won't officially make his move to the White House until inauguration day - a political parade of sorts, when the Democrat and his Vice-President Kamala Harris take the oath of office.
Joe Biden is US president-elect. But the Democrat won't officially make his move to the White House until inauguration day - a political parade of sorts, when Mr Biden takes the oath of office. From the guest list to Covid-19 changes, here's everything you need to know about the big day.
Here's what you need to know about the big day.
What is the inauguration?What is the inauguration?
The inauguration is the event where the US president-elect and vice-president elect are sworn in. The inauguration is the formal ceremony that marks the start of a new presidency, and it takes place in Washington DC.
"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." The only required feature is that the president-elect recite the presidential oath of office: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
What Joe Biden wants to doWhat Joe Biden wants to do
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Does Biden's new team better reflect America?Does Biden's new team better reflect America?
Once he utters these words, enshrined in America's founding document, Mr Biden will take his place as the 46th president and the inauguration will be complete (but that's not all - celebrations traditionally follow). Once he utters these words, Mr Biden will then take his place as the 46th president and the inauguration will be complete (but that's not all - celebrations follow).
When is Biden's inauguration? When does the new president take office? Kamala Harris will become vice-president once she takes the oath of office, which usually happens just before the president is sworn in.
By law, inauguration day is 20 January. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in at noon that day in Washington DC. Opening remarks are historically scheduled for around 11:30 EST (16:30 GMT). When is Biden's inauguration?
Once Mr Biden takes the oath, he has officially assumed office and the power of the presidency is his. He'll move into the White House later in the day - his home for the next four years. By law, inauguration day is 20 January. Opening remarks are usually scheduled for around 11:30 EST (16:30 GMT) and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in at midday.
Mr Biden will move into the White House later in the day - his home for the next four years.
How will Covid-19 change this year's inauguration?
In normal circumstances, Washington DC would see hundreds of thousands of inauguration revellers flock to the city, swarming the National Mall and selling out hotels - an estimated two million came when President Obama was sworn in for his first term in 2009.
But this year, the celebration's size will be "extremely limited", the Biden team has said, and it has urged Americans to avoid travelling to the capital.
Mr Biden and Ms Harris will still take their oaths in front of the US Capitol, overlooking the Mall (a tradition that started with President Ronald Reagan in 1981) but viewing stands that had been constructed along the parade route are being taken down.
The stage has been set in front of the US Capitol
In the past, up to 200,000 tickets were up for grabs to attend the official ceremony, but this year, with infections still surging across the US, only around 1,000 tickets will be available.
This year, there will still be a "pass in review" ceremony - a traditional part of the peaceful transfer of power, where the new commander in chief inspects the troops, but instead of the usual parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, organisers say they will host a a "virtual parade" across the US.
Mr Biden, Ms Harris and their spouses will then be escorted to the White House by members of the military, including a band and drum corps.
How do you get inauguration tickets?How do you get inauguration tickets?
If you want to attend the inaugural ceremonies, you'll need to talk to your local representatives first. Tickets are required for seated and standing areas near the stage and seats along the parade route in normal years, but the rest of the National Mall is open to the public.
George W Bush, his wife Laura Bush, Dick Cheney and Lynne Cheney watch fireworks as part of inaugural celebrations If you want to watch the inaugural ceremonies from up close, you'll need to talk to your local representatives first.
Senators and members of Congress are the keepers of the keys. Each has an allotted number of tickets that they can distribute. Inaugural balls and other related events around the city require separate tickets.
But this year, with Covid-19 infections still surging across the US, things will be a little different. Only around 1,000 tickets will be up for grabs, where in the past up to 200,000 were made available for the official ceremony. Barack Obama's first inauguration reportedly drew some two million people to the celebrations
This year it amounts to each lawmaker plus a guest. Some members of Congress have already opened up submission forms, with the caveat that nothing is guaranteed. Senators and members of Congress are the keepers of the keys. Each has an allotted number of free tickets that they can distribute.
The Biden team has "strongly encouraged" people to refrain from travelling to Washington to attend, amid fears of virus spread. This year's pandemic-restricted number amounts to each lawmaker plus a guest. Commemorative tickets will be available for constituents after inauguration day.
In normal circumstances, DC would see hundreds of thousands - make that an estimated two million the year President Obama was sworn in - of inauguration revellers flock to the city, swarming the National Mall and selling out hotels.
Why is the inauguration in January?
A January inauguration wasn't always the case - the Constitution initially set 4 March as the day for new leaders to take their oaths of office.
Selecting a date four months from the November general election made sense at the time given how long it took for votes from across the country to trickle in to the capital.
Bill and Hillary Clinton at an inaugural ball - a staple of the political festivities
But this also meant the lame duck period - the time when an outgoing president is still in office - was quite long. Eventually, as modern advances made it easier to count and report votes, this lengthy time frame was changed. The 20th Amendment, ratified in 1933, decreed the new president would be inaugurated on 20 January instead.
Where is the inauguration held?
The stage is already being set up in front of the US Capitol in Washington DC, overlooking the National Mall. While the scene of crowds amid the nation's monuments may be a familiar one, it's only been a tradition since President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
Before that, presidents took their oaths on the other side of the Capitol, inside the chambers of Congress, at the White House, or elsewhere in the country (George Washington took his oath in New York City).
Ronald and Nancy Reagan wave to inaugural revellers
After the swearing in ceremony, there's usually a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.
This year, the celebration's size will be "extremely limited", the Biden team has said, while urging Americans to avoid travelling to the capital.
There will still be a "pass in review" ceremony - a traditional part of the peaceful transfer of power, where the new commander in chief inspects the troops.
In lieu of the typical parade, the Bidens will then be escorted to the White House by these military members, including a band and drum corps.
A "virtual parade" will also take place across the US, with "diverse" performances, planners say.
Who is performing?
Mr Biden has not yet announced who he'll have on stage with him to lend some star power. Expect some big names. In recent years, incoming presidents have added some of the country's most beloved performers to the day's programme.
George W Bush's first inaugural address in 2001 featured music from military bands, but the Republican was later joined by Ricky Martin and Destiny's Child - featuring a 19-year-old Beyoncé Knowles - for the celebrations. And in 2005, President Bush's second inaugural celebration was bolstered by performances from singers Hilary Duff and Gloria Estefan.
In 2009, the "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin turned out for Barack Obama's inauguration, performing My Country 'Tis of Thee.
Beyoncé was also on hand, singing At Last to the first couple at Mr Obama's inaugural ball. At his second inauguration in 2013, President Obama called on Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson to do the honours. Beyoncé was back again, this time to sing the national anthem.
At the most recent inauguration, Donald Trump reportedly had more trouble booking performers. Elton John declined Mr Trump's offer to perform, and reports circulated that Celine Dion, Kiss and Garth Brooks did the same. In the end, the Rockettes, country artist Lee Greenwood, and band 3 Doors Down turned out for Mr Trump's day.
Will Trump be there?Will Trump be there?
It's become customary for the outgoing president to watch the next in line be sworn in. This can make things awkward. It's become customary for the outgoing president to watch the next in line be sworn in, which can make things awkward.
As a former first lady, Hillary Clinton joined her husband, former President Bill Clinton, at Mr Trump's inauguration - just two months after her election defeat and a bitter campaign against Mr Trump. This year, there's some speculation that Mr Trump may boycott Mr Biden's swearing in. The president has still not conceded the race, and has refused to say if he will show up.
There have been exceptions, but none in the last century. President John Adams, his son, President John Quincy Adams, and President Andrew Johnson all sat out their successor's inauguration. Some of his supporters have taken it a step further, planning a virtual "second inauguration" for Mr Trump on the same day (and time) that Mr Biden takes office. More than 68,000 people have said on Facebook they will attend the online event to show their support for Mr Trump.
Barack Obama was there to see Donald Trump sworn-in
This year, there's some speculation that Mr Trump may add himself to this list and boycott Mr Biden's swearing in.
The president has still not conceded the race, despite Mr Biden's win in the electoral college - the system the US uses to choose its president - and a more than five million vote lead in the popular vote. So far, Mr Trump has refused to say if he will show.
Some of his supporters have taken it a step further, planning a virtual "second inauguration" for Mr Trump on the same day that Mr Biden takes office. More than 60,000 people have said on Facebook they will attend the event and show their support for Mr Trump.
For his part, Mr Biden has said he hopes his predecessor attends in order to set a positive example of a peaceful transition of power.For his part, Mr Biden has said he hopes his predecessor attends in order to set a positive example of a peaceful transition of power.
But Mr Trump's presence is "not on the top 10 list" of the president-elect's priorities, incoming press secretary Jen Psaki said this month.But Mr Trump's presence is "not on the top 10 list" of the president-elect's priorities, incoming press secretary Jen Psaki said this month.
Barack Obama was there to see Donald Trump sworn in
When Mr Trump was sworn in, Hillary Clinton joined her husband, former President Bill Clinton, at the inauguration - just two months after her election defeat and a bitter campaign against Mr Trump.
Only three presidents - John Adams, John Quincy Adams and Andrew Johnson - have sat out their successor's inaugurations, and none in the last century.
Who is performing?
Mr Biden has not yet announced who he'll have on stage with him to lend some star power. Expect some big names.
In recent years, incoming presidents have added some of the country's most beloved performers to the day's programme.
Beyonce performed at both of Obama's inaugurations
In 2009, Aretha Franklin turned out for Barack Obama's inauguration, performing My Country 'Tis of Thee. Beyoncé was also on hand, singing At Last to the first couple at Mr Obama's inaugural ball.
At his second inauguration in 2013, President Obama called on Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson to do the honours. Beyoncé was back again, this time to sing the national anthem.
Donald Trump reportedly had more trouble booking performers. Elton John declined Mr Trump's offer to perform, and reports circulated that Celine Dion, Kiss and Garth Brooks did the same. In the end, the Rockettes, country artist Lee Greenwood, and band 3 Doors Down turned out for Mr Trump's day.
Why is the inauguration in January?
A January inauguration wasn't always the case - the Constitution initially set 4 March as the day for new leaders to take their oaths of office.
Selecting a date four months from the November general election made sense at the time given how long it took for votes from across the country to trickle in to the capital. But this also meant the lame duck period - the time when an outgoing president is still in office - was quite long.
Eventually, as modern advances made it easier to count and report votes, this lengthy time frame was changed. The 20th Amendment, ratified in 1933, decreed the new president would be inaugurated on 20 January instead.