Which amendment specifies that elected government offices end at noon on January 20th?

The 20th amendment, ratified in 1933, is significant because it establishes the dates when elected federal offices end and new offices begin. Specifically, it states that the terms of the President and Vice President expire at noon on January 20th following the election. This amendment was designed to reduce the time between an election and the inauguration of new officeholders, which was a concern previously addressed only through custom.

Before the 20th amendment, there was a long lame duck period between the election and the inauguration, which could lead to inefficiencies and uncertainties in governance. By setting the official end of terms to January 20th, the amendment aimed to ensure a more streamlined transfer of power.

In contrast, the other amendments listed pertain to different subjects: the 19th amendment addresses women's suffrage, the 21st amendment repealed Prohibition, and the 22nd amendment limits presidential terms. Each of these serves important functions in American governance but does not relate to the timing of elected office terms in the same way the 20th amendment does.