Presidential inaugurations used to take place on March 4th, unless it was a Sunday. In 1937, the date was changed to January 20th through the 20th Amendment to the US Constitution.
March 4, 1789 is the day the U.S. Constitution took effect and this is the reason for the original inauguration date. Members of Congress begin their term on January 3rd, also changed from March by the 20th Amendment.
This date change by the 20th Amendment shortens the lame duck session of Congress and the Executive branch by moving the beginning of their terms closer to the election in November. Sorry, weather didn't have much impact on the choice of dates.



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