Donald Trump has been elected as the next leader of the free world, beating Democratic candidate Hilary Clinton by 279 to 218. But there are a number of steps that have to be taken before the new president can take over the White House. Here we look at the timeline of events that will take place between the election and Mr Trump’s inauguration, and beyond.

Electoral College vote

A joint session is held in Congress for the electors to formally vote in the Electoral College system on 19 December. This is the voting system that ultimately elects the president, but Congress will not count the votes until early next year, announcing the result on 6 January.

Picking a cabinet

Mr Trump will be expected to announce his cabinet in the coming weeks. When president Obama was first elected in November 2008, he named Hilary Clinton as his Secretary of State on 1 December and completed his cabinet announcements less than three weeks later. Mr Trump has not indicated which of his supporters will be selected to support him in office, but there has been speculation that Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani will be named within his cabinet.

Tour of private quarters

It is traditional that in the weeks between the election day and Inauguration Day the outgoing and incoming First Ladies meet at the White House for a tour of the private residence. Michelle Obama met with Laura Bush on 10 November in 2008 to be shown the space that would be the family’s new home and plan for their arrival. Mr and Mrs Bush’s twin children, Barbara and Jenna, gave the Obama girls Malian and Sasha their own tour of the residence.

US Election night in pictures Show all 24 1 /24 US Election night in pictures US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 09: People celebrate during the call for Republican president-elect Donald Trump at his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 9, 2016 in New York City. at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is joined by her husband, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, at a campaign rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 7, 2016, the final day of campaigning before the election. REUTERS/Brian Snyder TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Reuters US Election night in pictures U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and her husband, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, talk to reporters on her campaign plane in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 7, 2016, the final day of campaigning before the election. REUTERS/Brian Snyder Reuters US Election night in pictures Democratic party nominee Hillary Clinton gives a speech from a stand bearing the US President seal during a rally on Independence Mall, November 7, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. About 40,000 people flooded Independence Mall in Philadelphia for Hillary Clinton's rally with her husband Bill, President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle at her side, a campaign aide said. The attendance set a new record for Clinton, with the previous high point a rally in Ohio that drew 18,500 people, a campaign aide told reporters traveling with the candidate. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan SmialowskiBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images Getty US Election night in pictures PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 07: U.S. President Barack Obama hugs Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a campaign rally on Independence Mall on November 7, 2016 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. With one day to go until election day, Hillary Clinton is campaigning in Pennsylvania, Michigan and North Carolina. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 07: Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign rally on Independence Mall on November 7, 2016 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. With one day to go until election day, Hillary Clinton is campaigning in Pennsylvania, Michigan and North Carolina. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures Supporters of U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton watch results at her election night rally in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 8, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson Reuters US Election night in pictures People watch elections returns during election night at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York on November 8, 2016. US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton will hold her election night event at the convention center. / AFP PHOTO / DON EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: A man reacts as he watches voting results at Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's election night event at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center November 8, 2016 in New York City. Clinton is running against Republican nominee, Donald J. Trump to be the 45th President of the United States. (Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures People watch elections returns during election night at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York on November 8, 2016. US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton will hold her election night event at the convention center. / AFP PHOTO / DON EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: People watch voting results at Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's election night event at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center November 8, 2016 in New York City. Clinton is running against Republican nominee, Donald J. Trump to be the 45th President of the United States. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: People react as they watch voting results at Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's election night event at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center November 8, 2016 in New York City. Clinton is running against Republican nominee, Donald J. Trump to be the 45th President of the United States. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: Supporters of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump cheer during the election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. Americans today will choose between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as they go to the polls to vote for the next president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: Supporters of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump cheer during the election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. Americans today will choose between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as they go to the polls to vote for the next president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: People cheer at Republican presidential nominee Donald Trumps election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. Americans today will choose between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as they go to the polls to vote for the next president of the United States. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - NOVEMBER 09: People carrie a picture of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton after a election watch event on November 9, 2016 in Seoul, South Korea. Counting process is underway and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has been elected the 45th president of the United States defeating Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 09: A woman takes a selfie during Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. Americans today will choose between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as they go to the polls to vote for the next president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures Supporters of Republican candidate Donald Trump, Stephanie Meza (L), 42, of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Rhonda Davis (R), 63, of Scottsdale, Arizona cheer as election results come in during a viewing party at a hotel in downtown Phoenix, Arizona on November 8, 2016. Millions of Americans voted November 8th for their new leader in a historic election that will either elevate Democrat Hillary Clinton as their first woman president or hand power to maverick populist Donald Trump. / AFP PHOTO / Laura SegallLAURA SEGALL/AFP/Getty Images Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 09: Republican president-elect Donald Trump acknowledges the crowd during his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 09: Republican president-elect Donald Trump walks on stage with his son Barron Trump, wife Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump during his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 09: Vice president-elect Mike Pence and Republican president-elect Donald Trump shake hands during his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures US President-elect Donald Trump greets wife Melania after speaking at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York on November 8, 2016. Trump stunned America and the world Wednesday, riding a wave of populist resentment to defeat Hillary Clinton in the race to become the 45th president of the United States. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images Getty US Election night in pictures US President-elect Donald Trump greets doughter Tiffany after speaking at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York on November 8, 2016. Trump stunned America and the world Wednesday, riding a wave of populist resentment to defeat Hillary Clinton in the race to become the 45th president of the United States. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images Getty US Election night in pictures Republican presidential elect Donald Trump (L) kisses his daughter Ivanka during election night at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York on November 9, 2016. Trump stunned America and the world Wednesday, riding a wave of populist resentment to defeat Hillary Clinton in the race to become the 45th president of the United States. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images

Inauguration

President Obama will continue to be Commander In Chief until noon on 20 January 2017, when Mr Trump will be sworn in as the next president alongside his vice-president, Mike Pence.

Inauguration Day in Washington DC starts with a morning worship service, followed by a procession to the Capitol building to start the vice president’s swearing in ceremony, followed by the president’s, who then gives an Inaugural address. Barack Obama and vice-president Joe Biden will officially depart, before Mr Trump and Mr Pence move onto the official Inaugural Luncheon, the Inaugural Parade down Pennsylvania Avenue and then to the Inaugural Ball.

US Election: New president Donald Trump in numbers

Moving in

Inauguration day also serves as moving in day for the new president. The Obamas will say their goodbyes to White House staff, making way for the Trumps to move their belongings into the private quarters of the building and take up their position as the First Family.

First 100 days