We have seen how in the UK there is a new Prime Minister and House of Commons the day after a (snap) general election, not two months like it is in the US, from Election day in November to Inauguration day in January. It may have been necessary in the US back in 1789 when travel was by horse, but this was true for the English parliament back then also. But the British (and other European countries) have adapted to modernity and get a new government quite quickly, but in the US we get two months of lame duck government.
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The deadline by which all US states have to hold their elections for Congress and the President is set by federal law as the Tuesday after the first Monday of November of the year prior to the start of the next term. It’s been that way since the mid 19th century. For a while the terms for President and Congress would begin in March, creating a 6-month lame duck window. It wasn’t until the passing of the 20th amendment that the dates for beginning the terms of Congress and the President were moved up to January 3rd and 20th, respectively. The idea is that two months is sufficient to count votes, hold any necessary recounts, resolve legal disputes, etc. Is it a bit outdated? Sure. But it’s not a big enough deal for there to be any momentum behind changing these laws.
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