Barack Obama, who was elected president this past November and confirmed by the Electoral College in December, is poised to become the 44th president of these United States. He is also the first person of African descent to ascend to the presidency.

America is a rarity among nations, a country where the peaceful transfer of power takes place in orderly fashion without fear of coup, war, political strife, etc. I say this to counter some of the silliness that has taken place over the past several months from some on the far left who suggest that our 43rd president, George W. Bush, will not relinquish power.

For more than 232 years, an orderly transition from president to president has taken place and, yes, I most certainly recall the resignation of President Richard M. Nixon who was replaced by Gerald R. Ford, one of the most tumultuous times in American history.

To that end, I will share with you the XX Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which outlines the transfer of power that we Americans hold so dear:

AMENDMENT XX

Passed by Congress March 2, 1932. Ratified January 23, 1933.

Note: Article I, section 4, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of this amendment. In addition, a portion of the 12th amendment was superseded by section 3.

Section 1.
The terms of the President and the Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.

Section 2.
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

Section 3.
If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.

Section 4.
The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.

Section 5.
Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.

Section 6.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission.

Source: Charters of Freedom: The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights