Why Do We Need a Transition Period?

[liberalpragmatist]

Virtually no other democracy has one. Well, okay, to be fair, no parliamentary systems do. But still - I don't know why it couldn't work in the US. Why couldn't we just have all federal terms (Pres., Congress) automatically expire, say, a week before the election. The officials would stay in power as "caretakers" until a winner was authorized and his/her term could begin right after being elected, or a day or so afterwards.

I realize that with cabinet and all it may be tougher, but why not allow the President the opportunity to appoint his cabinet members temporarily for an interim period during which time they would be merely "acting" secretaries, subject to senate confirmation within, say, a period of 3 months.

Personally, I think even our current lame-duck period is too long.

UPDATE: I should add that I favor scrapping the EC or at the least, making electoral votes automatic, not cast by live electors. If either of these were the case, then transition periods would be meaningless.

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. Electoral College doesn't meet until about 1 month after the election.

Newly elected people need time to move to DC, losers to move out.

Do you really expect numbnuts to have his bags packed on 11/1?

[liberalpragmatist]

2. Well, and to be fair, I think as part of this the EC should go too

So I'm talking about comprehensive electoral reform which would incorporate this. But even if the electoral college were to remain, if say the Constitution were amended to award electoral votes automatically (no actual electors casting votes), then this would still work.

[banana republican]

11. I hope so

I don't want him arround any longer than necessary....

[Spinzonner]

3. What we really need is

an injunction to keep the previous administration from destroying records during the transition

[stavka]

4. What other democracy are you talking about? (that has no transition)

Most real democracies are parliamentary by the way. I wish we were. I would be great to see 3% of the house Green, and 1% actually Nazi-Klan types.

The two party system is a huge part of the problem.

I am a Democrat, because I have no other moral choice

[liberalpragmatist]

5. Most of them

In the UK the new PM and the new parliament take office THE NEXT DAY. Similar in India and Canada, or however long it takes for a cabinet to be named and approved. Sometimes that can take awhile. But as soon as a candidate for PM has a majority backing him in parliament, he's PM, even if it's just 1 day after the election.

For instance during the Potsdam conference towards the end of WWII, the UK election occurred where Churchill was defeated. So in the middle of the Potsdam conference, Clement Attlee SUDDENLY replaced Churchill.

[dflprincess]

6. Look on the bright side

originally, the transition period went on until March. FDR's 1933 inaugural was the last one held so late, after that the Constitution was amended to move it to January.

[Eye and Monkey]

7. We need a transition. Period.

[Bucky]

8. No, not "period". It's a legit question & deserves a thoughtful answer

I think some transitional period time is good. Clinton sure made an excellent use of his transition time, using it as a time to educate the public and garner public support and expert opinions on how to fix the Reagan-Bush mess he inherited.

[Eye and Monkey]

9. Yes. Period. Lighten up. Think past your own "thoughtful answer"

and discover that there may be more to a few words than you think.

[Bucky]

12. damn you

[Eye and Monkey]

13. Smile when you say that, Pilgrim.

[carpetbagger]

10. Transition periods provide several benefits.

1. Election disputes take time to resolve.
2. We don't have a parliamentary government, so the cabinet isn't pre-ordained, say like committee chairs are when control changes in Congress. It takes time to choose sub-cabinet officials.
3. Time to dig up dirt on cabinet officials and find the freaks and lunatics.
4. Gives the administration time to formulate an agenda, which is important given our multiple centers of government power.
5. Allows the army of low-level political appointees to move in and out.
6. Lets tempers die back after an election.
7. I don't like the idea of appointed secretaries. Let them understand from day one that they are accountable to Congress.