United States presidential line of succession
The United States presidential line of succession is the order in which government officials replace the President of the United States if the president leaves office before an elected successor is inaugurated. If the president dies, resigns or is removed from the office, the vice president becomes president for the rest of the term. If the vice president is unable to serve, the Speaker of the House acts as president.
Previous lines
The United States Constitution says that the vice president of the United States is the person who will replace the president if the president is not able to continue.[1] In 1868, during the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson, Benjamin Wade was the leader of the Senate, who nearly became president, as Johnson was found not guilty by one vote. Johnson had previously served as vice president for Abraham Lincoln, and became president after Lincoln’s assassination. As a result, there was no vice president during Johnson’s presidency.
In 1886, after the death of Vice President Thomas A. Hendricks, Congress passed a law that took out the leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives from the line of succession.[2] The new person behind the vice president in line was Secretary of State, followed by other Cabinet members. The leaders of the Senate and House were restored to the line of succession by the Presidential Succession Act of 1947.[2]
Present line of succession
Below is the current line of succession for the president of the United States:
United States Presidential Line Of Succession Media
Federal judge Sarah T. Hughes administering the presidential oath of office to President Lyndon B. Johnson following the assassination of John F. Kennedy, November 22, 1963
Chief Justice Warren Burger administering the presidential oath of office to President Gerald Ford following the resignation of Richard Nixon, August 9, 1974
In April 1841, John Tyler became the first person to succeed to the presidency intra-term upon the death of William Henry Harrison.
1st-in-line of succession, new Vice President Gerald Ford addressed Congress in 1973 in front of 2nd-in-line Speaker of the House Carl Albert, and 3rd-in-line President pro tempore of the Senate James Eastland.
Notes
- ↑ Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm is not allowed to become acting president, as she is not a natural-born U.S. citizen. Granholm's citizenship was given through naturalization.
- ↑ Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas is not allowed to become acting president, as he is not a natural-born U.S. citizen. Mayorkas' citizenship was given through naturalization.
References
- ↑ See United States Constitution, Amendment XXV.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Succession to the Presidency - A Chronology". Retrieved 21 October 2015.
- ↑ Lord, Debbie (June 18, 2018). A president resigns, dies or is impeached: What is the line of succession?. Cox Media Group. https://www.wftv.com/news/trending-now/a-president-resigns-dies-or-is-impeached-what-is-the-line-of-succession/772080208. Retrieved June 18, 2018.