User talk:129.79.197.178

Assumed office date
Hi. Members of Congress such as Mike Lawler assumed office on January 3, 2023, not January 7, 2023. The 20th Amendment makes this very clear. I understand that they were sworn in later but they still assumed their office on January 3 at noon. --MZMcBride (talk) 03:27, 8 February 2023 (UTC)


 * Assumed office and took office are the same thing. If you remember, news outlets referred to everyone including those in Congress for decades, as "Congressman-elect." They themselves admitted they could not do literally anything other than the Speakers vote until sworn in. Indiana's new statewide office holders "assumed" office at midnight on Jan 1, but they also started their terms then since they already filled out Oath of Office forms. 129.79.197.178 (talk) 03:33, 8 February 2023 (UTC)
 * The infobox lists when the officeholder assumed their office. The 20th Amendment is very explicit that this date is January 3 at noon. Federal law requires that members be sworn in before preceding to other business, but they're still members of Congress. Why else would they be in the chamber and capable of voting in the speaker elections? They have to be duly elected members. Other articles we have on this topic, such as List of members of the United States Congress by longevity of service and List of new members of the 118th United States Congress, recognizes that there was no gap in the service and that it began on January 3. --MZMcBride (talk) 03:52, 8 February 2023 (UTC)
 * I happen to have a Masters Degree in constitutional law with a focus in Congress, I think I know my stuff. I've worked for members of Congress and am personally connected with several, including three freshman who assumed their jobs and duties on Jan 7th. They were barred from doing anything prior to their swearing in other than the Speakers vote.. because that's the person who is responsible for swearing them in. They all signed their oaths of office cards no earlier than Jan 7th. "Why else would they be in the chamber and capable of voting in the speaker elections? They have to be duly elected members." .....yes, you can still have been a duly elected member to congress without being an actual member. Yes, the 117th Congress ended at noon eastern on Jan 3, and the 118th began simultaneously, which still does not mean that the members' terms started that instant. 129.79.197.178 (talk) 04:18, 8 February 2023 (UTC)
 * I didn't write the 20th Amendment, but it's very clear. I'll quote section 1 here:
 * "The terms of the President and 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."


 * I agree with you that unsworn-in members have restrictions and that most other House business cannot be conducted until a speaker is sworn in and swears in the other members. However, certain House business necessarily requires the current certified members of the House, elected by their districts, to participate. This business includes adjourning and electing a speaker. Why are you and I not part of these votes? Or why aren't former members such as Adam Kinzinger part of these votes? Because none of us are members of Congress. You and I both know this. The infobox states their service start date, which is January 3 for new members.
 * Again, we wouldn't consider someone such as Steny Hoyer to have a gap in his service from January 3–7, 2023. He and the 433 other people involved in House business were members of Congress from their respective districts. If you want to note that members took their oaths on January 7 in article text, I have no objection. --MZMcBride (talk) 06:08, 8 February 2023 (UTC)
 * Edits such as this are borderline disruptive. It's unclear why you're removing the note that says "don't link this" while linking it. You need to provide appropriate edit summaries that justify your changes if you're going to make edits like this.
 * Edits such as this need to be accompanied by citing reliable sources. --MZMcBride (talk) 03:56, 8 February 2023 (UTC)