CHARLES MG. MATHAS, JR. March 21, 1984 Dear President Carter: We are writing to solicit your views on a constitutional amendment that we have proposed which would advance the date of Presidential inaugurations from January 20 to November 20. The same proposed amendment (S. J. Res. 71) would provide that the terms of Members of Congress would begin on November 15 of election years. The Subcommittee on the Constitution of the Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a hearing on this proposal for Tuesday, April 24, 1984. Your views on the proposal would be of immeasurable help to the Subcommittee and we hope that you will be willing to share them. We are making a similar request to President Ford. We have proposed this amendment in order to avoid an unnecessarily long interregnum between Presidencies. We believe this hiatus is particularly disadvantageous to our Nation in the conduct of its foreign relations. The proposal would at the same time eliminate lame-duck sessions of Congress which are rarely productive and which run counter to the principles of representative government. We would hope that you would find some merit in this proposal, but we and the Subcommittee would find your counsel most valuable whether favorable or unfavorable. We would be honored if you would be able to present your views in person at the hearing. Should that not be possible, a written statement would be most welcome. We make this request with the knowledge and encouragement of the Subcommittee, whose chairman, Senator Hatch, will of course extend a formal invitation in the event you are willing to provide your views of the proposed amendment. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request. With best wishes, Claide P. Claiborne Pell United States Senator Sincerely, AM Charles McC. Mathias, Jr. April 2, 1984 GERALD R. FORD Dear Mac: I have received the joint letter from Senator Pell and you in reference to proposed constitutional amendments to advance the date of the Presidential Inauguration from January 20th to November 20th, and set the terms of Members of Congress to begin November 15th of election years. I have given a great deal of thought to the proposed constitutional amendment in reference to the date of the Presidential inauguration. It is my considered judgment that November 20th would be too short a time after the election. A newly elected President requires time to select his Cabinet and other Administration officials. A two to three week period is insufficient to assemble this critical group with all the checking that must be done, plus Congressional action on the Cabinet nominations. Furthermore, if there is ever a contested Presidential election, it would most likely require more than a two to three week period to determine the winner. There is nothing sacrosanct about January 20th for an inauguration. Perhaps a mid-December or earlier January date would overcome the two questions I have raised. I would not approve a November 15th date for the term of a member of Congress. I believe January 3rd should be retained. Newly elected members need time to rearrange their personal affairs. The political party organizations in the Senate and House of Representatives take time to be set up. Lame-duck sessions are not desirable, but can best be avoided by Congress completing its responsibilities more expeditiously prior to the national election date. A final adjournment, with all business, including appropriations, completed before the beginning of the new fiscal year would obviate the need for a lame-duck session, except in the instance of a national crisis. Regrettably, because of an abnormally busy schedule in the months ahead, I will not be able to testify in person. You have, however, my permission to include my above views in the committee record. Warmest, best wishes, The Honorable Charles McC. Mathias, Jr. United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECRETARIES OF STATE April 23, 1984 The Honorable Orrin Hatch Chairman, Subcommittee on Constitution Committee on the Judiciary Dear Senator Hatch: The National Association of Secretaries of State is the oldest You have asked our position on Senate Joint Resolution 71 which Our Association appreciates very much the opportunity to express Because of the importance of this matter, I have added it to the We would be interested in results of the testimony you are now gathering. Again, on behalf of the National Association of Secretaries of State, thank you for the opportunity to comment and respond to Serate Joint Resolution 71. THAD EURE North Carolina BEN MEIER North Dakota JAMES C KIRKPATRICK ALLEN J BEERMANN JOAN A GROWE GENTRY CROWELL DON SIEGLI MAN JIM WALTERMIRE DATE: March 15, 1984 TO: Members of N.A.S.S. MEMORANDUM FROM: Jack H. Brier, President B Enclosed is a letter from Senator Claiborne Pell, as well Please read both carefully and extend to me your thoughts on (1) whether N.A.S.S. ought to participate in the hearings, and כ: (2) your thoughts as to the position of N.A.S.S. on this matter. as a Finally, please mark your calendar for the Annapolis Conference LACK Laturia A neaty Electal то дат на м C-861 SECRETARIAT: The Council of State Governments; Norm Sims; P.O. Box 11910; Lexington, Kentucky 40578 Telephone (606) 252-2291 This will acknowledge your memorandum of March 15, regarding As far as I am concerned I would refuse the amendment, because |