U.S. Presidential Transition Resources

The workings of government are tested most when one administration hands over power to the next. The peaceful process currently underway in the U.S. is a wonder of sorts being watched by many around the world. Below are links to information from various government sources as well as a few non-government websites on the current presidential transition as well as a few glances back at past transitions.

Presidential Transition Act of 1963
http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_BASIC&contentId=24780
("An Act to promote the orderly transfer of the executive power in connection with the expiration of the term of office of a President and the Inauguration of a new President.")

Office of the President-Elect
http://change.gov/
(Information from President-Elect Barack Obama's pending administration team)

Information from President George W. Bush administration on transition
http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/transition/

Executive Order: Facilitation of a Presidential Transition
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/10/20081009-1.html
(Issued October 9, 2008)

Fact Sheet: Ensuring a Smooth and Effective Presidential Transition http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/10/20081028-1.html
(Issued by the President Bush Administration)

Report of the Administration Transition Task Force
http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/hsac_ATTF_Report.pdf
(Homeland Security Advisory Council)

The Plum Book
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/plumbook/
(Just what is this book that the news media has been talking about?)

Presidential Transition Guide to Federal Human Resources Management
http://www.opm.gov/ses/references/Transition_Guide.pdf
(A guide to Federal jobs, appointed and civil service)

2008-2009 Presidential Transition Resources
http://directory.presidentialtransition.gov/
(Information supplied by the U.S. General Services Administration)

"Presidential Transitions"
by Stephanie Smith (Congressional Research Service, February 2008)
http://web.jhu.edu/gcpa/government/federal/images/pdfs/transition/Presidential_Transitions.pdf
(Information on some past transitions and recommendations on what will be needed for a smooth transition in 2009)

2008-2009 Presidential Transition Resources
http://directory.presidentialtransition.gov/
(Information supplied by the U.S. General Services Administration)

Presidential Transition of Barack Obama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_transition_of_Barack_Obama
(Wikipedia article)

United States: Presidential Transition and Implications for National Security in 2008-2009
by Raphaël RAMOS
http://www.esisc.org/documents/pdf/en/united-states-presidential-transition-410.pdf
(September 2008 : European Strategic Intelligence Security Center. Europeans observe the transition in the U.S.)

HISTORICAL RESOURCES

U.S. Constitution Annotated, 20th Amendment
http://www.law.cornell.edu/anncon/html/amdt20toc_user.html
(Commencement of the terms of the president, vice president and members of Congress, etc. From Cornell Law School)

2001 Presidential Transition Documents Online
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/transition2001.php
(The American Pesidency Project)

"Abrupt Transition"
by C.L. Arbelbide (Prologue Magazine, vol. 32, no. 4, winter 2000)
http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2000/winter/abrupt-transition-1.html
(Read how administrations have dealt with sudden, unexpected presidential transitions in the past)

Presidential Libraries
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/libraries.php
(Storehouses across the country with information on U.S. presidents and their administrations)