President-elect of the United States: Difference between revisions

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2018}}

 

The only [[United States Constitution|constitutional]] provision pertaining directly to the person who has won the presidential election is their availability to take the oath of office. There is no indication ''when'' that person actually becomes president-elect.<ref name=prezelect>{{cite web |url=http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2017/01/what-constitutional-duties-are-placed-on-the-president-elect/|title=What constitutional duties are placed on the President Elect?|last=Bomboy|first=Scott|date=January 6, 2017|publisher=[[National Constitution Center]]|access-date=January 15, 2017}}</ref> Since 1963, [[Law of the United States#Federal law|U.S. federal law]] has empowered the [[General Services Administration]] to determine who the apparent election winner is, and to help facilitate the basic functioning of the [[United States presidential transition#Process|president-elect's transition]] team.<ref name="General Services Administration">{{cite web|quote=The terms "President-elect" and "Vice-President-elect" as used in this Act shall mean such persons as are the apparent successful candidates for the office of the President and Vice President, respectively, as ascertained by the Administrator following the general elections held to determine the electors of the President and Vice-President in accordance with title 3, United States code, sections 1 and 2.|title=Presidential Transition Act of 1963 (Public Law 88-277) |url=http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/178083|publisher=General Services Administration|access-date=May 17, 2016}}</ref> By convention, during the period between the election and the inauguration, the president-elect actively prepares to carry out the duties of the office of president and works with the outgoing (or [[Lame duck (politics)|lame duck]]) president to ensure a smooth handover of all presidential responsibilities.