Presidential transition

A presidential transition or presidential interregnum refers to the period of time between the end of a presidential election and the inauguration of a new President of a country. During this time the incoming President usually designates new government personnel, including selecting new Cabinet positions and government department or agency heads.

The Presidential transition is also viewed as the transition of governmental power from one administration (incumbent) to the other (newly elected) administration.

Argentina

In Argentina, the elected president makes the oath of office at the Argentine National Congress. Then he goes across the Avenida de Mayo to the Casa Rosada, and receives the presidential sash and the presidential staff from the outgoing president.

United States

In the United States, during a presidential transition, the outgoing "lame duck" President has lost many of the intangible benefits of a Presidency (e.g., being perceived as the default leader on issues of national importance) but the incoming President-elect is not yet legally empowered to affect policy. This ambiguity in the roles of the President-elect and outgoing President creates the potential for a leadership vacuum, which may be most acutely felt during wartime or times of economic crisis.