When do the President and Vice-President officially take office?

The correct answer is January 20 following their election. This date is specified in the 20th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which was ratified in 1933. It states that the terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on January 20th following the election, marking the official beginning of their presidency. Inauguration Day is a significant event in the U.S. political calendar, as it symbolizes the peaceful transfer of power between outgoing and incoming leadership.

The other options are not aligned with this constitutional provision; for instance, January 1 and February 1 do not hold any legal basis for the commencement of the presidential office. Additionally, while Inauguration Day does vary in terms of the ceremonies associated with it, the specific date of January 20 is fixed and does not change in accordance with the election cycle.