Why is there such an extended period of time between a Presidential election and when the President-elect takes office? It seems to me this time period allows for all kinds of shenanigans -- from shredding documents, pushing through judical appointments for the losing side, and having Senate leadership positions filled before new senators arrive to take their positions.
How did this practice of a large gap of time get started? Who started it? Is it an actual legal thing or just a convention?
Just think back two hundred years. No phones. No internet. No nothin', Just snail mail. Once the election was settled, everyone had to be notified of the outcome, then the winners had to get people together to form the cabinet and they had to fill hundred, if not thousands, of positions. It took time to do this without our modern communication systems. So, that's why.