Inauguration Day

Inauguration Day events include:

• The Morning Worship Service
  Franklin D. Roosevelt initiated the tradition of attending a morning church service to begin Inauguration Day in 1933.
• The Procession to the Capitol
  The outgoing president accompanies the newly elected president to the swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol, the seat of Congress.
• Swearing-in Ceremony
  The President-elect and Vice-President-elect each take an Oath of Office administered by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The presidential oath is in the US Constitution:
  "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) 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 Inaugural Address
  The President addresses the nation to outline his main objectives for the next four years.

George W. Bush delivers his Inaugural Address

• The Inaugural Luncheon
  The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies hosts a luncheon in honour of the president and vice president at Statuary Hall in the US Capitol. Detailed information regarding the Inaugural Luncheon of President Barack Obama can be found in this recipe file (PDF).
• The Inaugural Parade
  The parade leads the new President and Vice President down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, and includes processions of ceremonial military regiments, citizens' groups, marching bands, and floats.
• The Inaugural Ball
  This tradition was revived by Harry Truman in 1949, but dates back to George Washington. The balls are planned by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Inauguration Organisation and Financing

The swearing-in ceremony alone costs over US$1 million. A large part of the ceremony is funded through ticket sales, contributions, and volunteer services.

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