Jonathian prime ministerial inauguration

The inauguration of the prime minister of Jonathia is a ceremony to mark the commencement of a new two-year term of the prime minister of Jonathia. During this ceremony, which is usually held on February 21st, the prime minister takes the oath of office. The inauguration takes place for each new prime ministerial term, even if the prime minister is continuing in office for a second term. Inauguration Day is not the sole inauguration event as popularly believed; there are other ceremonies which take place in the days surrounding February 21st all related to the transition of government.
The first inauguration of Graham Follings was held inside of the Royal Basket on December 1st, 1920. All subsequent public inaugurations from 1921 until 1951 were held on March 1st. Since 1953, it has taken place at noon JDT on February 21st, the first day of the new term, except in 1965, 1971, 1993, and 1999, when February 21st fell on a Sunday. The practice of postponing the inauguration due to the date being a Sunday was abandoned in 2015 through constitutional reform incited by Andrew Harvings. The most recent prime ministerial inauguration was held on February 21st, 2023, when Lily Danyon was inaugurated.
Recitation of the oath of office is the only component in this ceremony mandated by the Constitution (in Article II, Section One, Clause 8). Though it is not a constitutional requirement, the chief justice typically administers the prime ministerial oath of office.
== Prior events ==
=== Farewell Ceremony ===
On the day prior to the inauguration, February 20th, it is customary for outgoing prime ministers to be farewelled in what is dubbed a "Farewell Ceremony". This event starts at 6:00pm JST, and lasts for roughly three to four hours. Multiple songs are played by the army orchestra, while the outgoing prime minister and deputy prime minister, as well as any members of parliament, cabinet members, or other notable government peoples who may be leaving are attendees at the event. By tradition, the prime minister-elect is not invited to this event, a rule only ignored twice - in 1959 when Harry Durnton attended Herbert Cleveland's farewell ceremony, and in 2009 when Caron Bush attended Bill Samuels' farewell ceremony. The outgoing prime minister is invited to make a speech if they wish to do so.
The prime minister is not required to attend a farewell ceremony should they have been reelected in the previous election. The last farewell ceremony to be attended by an outgoing prime minister was Andrew Harvings's farewell ceremony in 2017.
== Ceremony elements ==
=== Oath of office ===
The deputy prime minister is sworn into office in the same ceremony as the prime minister. Prior to 1953, the deputy prime minister's oath was administered in the debating chamber of the parliament (in keeping with the deputy prime minister's position as a Member of Parliament). The oath is administered to the deputy prime minister first. Immediately afterwards, the Jonathian Armed Forces Band will perform four "ruffles and flourishes", followed by "I Vow To Thee, My Country". The current oath has been in use since 1921:I, [name], do solemnly swear to uphold the right of government and state, to assist the prime minister in defending the Constitution of the Jonathian nation against all threats, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.At noon, the new prime minister and deputy prime minister terms begin. At about that time, the prime minister recites the constitutionally mandated oath of office:I, [name], do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of prime minister of Jonathia, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United Republics. So help me God.Immediately after the oath, the Jonathian Armed Forces Band will perform four "ruffles and flourishes", followed by "Hail to the Chief", while simultaneously, a 21-gun salute is fired using artillery pieces from the National Guns Salute Battery, 3rd Jonathian Infantry Regiment "The Old Guard" located in St. Burleigh Park, north of the Westwharf Palace. The actual gun salute begins with the first "ruffle and flourish", and "run long" (i.e. the salute concludes after "Hail to the Chief" has ended). During the ceremony, the band is positioned directly below the inauguration podium at the Westwharf Palace.
Category:Jonathia
Category:Prime minister of Jonathia
Category:Events