Barack Obama officially will not win the 2008 presidential election until electors cast their votes and Congress certifies the results.

Although Barack Obama does not take office until January 20, 2009, the president-elect is busy preparing for his presidency by meeting with former and current government officials and appointing advisers who will play key roles in his administration.

President-elect Barack Obama officially resigned his seat in the U.S. Senate, where he had represented the State of Illinois since 2005.

Obama’s transition team announced it has established a series of policy working groups that will review existing policies and develop the priority policy proposals for the upcoming administration. The policy working groups will focus on the following areas: economy, education, energy and environment, health care, immigration, national security, and technology, innovation and government reform.

Forming the next government: Introduction (America.gov)

Forming the next government: Appointing a new Cabinet (America.gov)

Office of the President-Elect(Obama-Biden Transition Project)

Transition: in focus (The White House)

2008-2009 Presidential Transition Resources Directory (U.S. General Services Administration and U.S. National Archives & Records Administration)

2009 Congressional and presidential (U.S. Government Accountability Office)

Presidential Transition (U.S. General Services Administration)