objectives:

  • Explain how the Constitution provides for presidential succession
  • Understand the constitutional provisions relating to presidential disability
  • Describe the role of the Vice President

Vocabulary:

  • presidential succession: the scheme by which a presidential vacancy is filled
  • Presidential Succession Act of 1947: the current law fixing the order of succession to the presidency after the Vice President
  • balance ticket: the practice of choosing a Vice Presidential running mate who can strengthen the presidential candidates chance of being elected

Presidential Succession:

  • The Vice President has succeeded the President nine different times. 
  • The first time a presidential succession occurred was in 1841 when Vice President John Tyler replaced President William Harrison
  • Under the 25th Amendment, established in 1967, the Vice President formally assumes the office of President

Order of succession:

  • Presidential Succession Act of 1947 established an order of succession after the Vice President
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Presidential Disability:

The 25th Amendment formally addresses this presidential disability issue which was established in 1967. Before this amendment was passed there was no arrangement as to who would take the President's place in office if he/she had a certain disability. In order for the Vice President to take his place when he/she has a disability the President must do one of two things. He/she must either write a letter to Congress stating that the Vice President will temporary take the Presidents seat in office or the Vice President and the majority of Congress incapacitate the President from office. If the President write the formal letter to Congress, in order to return into office he/she must write a letter informing Congress he is interested in continuing his turn; however, the Vice President can challenge the letter which could cause the President to not be able to finish his/her term. If/when this happens Congress and the Vice President have twenty-one days to decide on the matter.

Vice President:

The Vice President has two formal duties:
  • preside over the Senate
  • help decide presidential disability
The Vice President preside over by the Senate by being the President of the Senate and helps decide a President's disability along with Congress by judging in the President should complete his/her term.