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January 17, 2013

President Barack Obama's Inauguration

Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC in VOA Special English.

I’m June Simms.

On our show this week, we tell about rapper A$AP Rocky, and hear parts of his new album…

We also look at how the art of origami might be useful in the mental health field.

But first we report about the plans for inaugurating America’s 44th President to a second term.

On Sunday, Barack Obama will be officially sworn-in for a second term as president. Federal law requires that each president-elect be sworn in on January 20th. However, the ceremony will be repeated for the public on Monday, January 21st.

Faith Lapidus tells us about some of the inaugural events planned to start the second term of the 44th President of the United States.

Presidential Inauguration

At twelve noon on January 20th, in the year following a presidential election, the president begins a four-year term. Inauguration Day represents an unbroken line that stretches back to 1789. That is when General George Washington was sworn-in as the first president.

The swearing-in ceremony communicates the strength and permanence of the presidency. It is also a powerful symbolic moment for Americans, says Georgetown University government professor Mark Rom.