why does it take so long between the election and change of goverment?

Because there are many positions changing hands and people being selected for those positions (over 1000). It also gives the current Prez time to clear things up and finish short term goals (pardons, goodwill expeditions, etc.). There is also a lot that the prez-elect needs to know and that 3 months is used for briefing and updating since much of the info is classified.

Has nothing to do with tradition - it has to do with reality.

Any other country the change would have been almost immediate. You don't need 3 months. Have the election, clear out your desk the next day. It's not like you knew a whole year in advance the election was going to happen. Is this a smooth transition. I'd say no. The market almost collapsed.

To allow enough time to form the cabinet of the president elect resulting in a smooth transition to the new administration.

its because we wanna give the president-elect some time to get used to the idea and get some planning done. it also helps them choose all their 8,000 jobs that they have to fill for their new administration. we like taking things slow, i mean look at our congress. its just how the founders thought it would work best

Be glad. It took Lincoln four months.

The same reason probably the US is the last major country on the

metric system..Tradition of being the last one to *convert*