Next week, the United States will practice a “peaceful transfer of power” when Donald J. Trump is inaugurated as president for his second term.

Until the late 1790s, there were no political parties in the U.S. But in the election of 1800, two parties, the Federalists and the Democratic- Republicans, competed for the presidency. When Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic- Republican, won the office, the Federalists accepted the outcome and did not act against him.

Peacefully transfering power between two different political belief systems became an important feature of our democracy.

A busy day Jan. 20, 2025, will be a day full of ceremony and tradition.

• In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt began the tradition of attending church on the morning of the inauguration.

• Next, the president-elect and vice president-elect and their wives will go to the White House. Then Trump and President Joe Biden will go together to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremonies.

• Vice President-elect JD Vance will take the oath of office first. The oaths are given by the chief justice of the United States, John Roberts.

• Trump will recite the president’s oath of office. It reads: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Melania Trump, his wife, will hold a Bible; some past presidents have used George Washington’s or Abraham Lincoln’s Bible.

• The new president will then address the nation. Modern presidents have presented their goals and vision for the United States during this speech.

After the oath

President Trump and the first lady, along with Vice President Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, will remain at the Capitol for an inaugural luncheon. Also at the lunch will be leaders of Congress and other guests.

Inauguration afternoon

When the inauguration is over, President Biden and his wife, Jill, will leave the Capitol and return to their private lives.

The Bidens will live in Wilmington, Delaware.

The new president and vice president will then either walk or ride at the front of a parade from the Capitol to the White House.

In the evening

On the evening of the inauguration, several balls, or formal parties, will be held in honor of the new president and vice president.

The first inaugural ball took place in 1809.

Some presidents have canceled the parties because they thought the occasion should be more serious.