Constitutional foundation
The line of succession is mentioned in three places in the Constitution: in Article II, Section 1, in Section 3 of the 20th Amendment, and in the 25th Amendment.
Article II, Section 1 makes the Vice President first in the line of succession and directs the Congress to provide by law for cases in which neither the President nor Vice President can serve. The current such law governing succession is the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 (3 U.S.C. § 19).
Section 3 of the 20th Amendment provides that if the President-elect dies before his or her term begins, the Vice President-elect becomes President on Inauguration Day and serves for the full term to which the President-elect was elected. The section also provides that if, on Inauguration Day, a President has not been chosen or the President-elect does not qualify for the Presidency, the Vice President-elect acts as President until a President is chosen or the President-elect qualifies. Finally, Section 3 directs the Congress to provide by law for cases in which neither a President-elect nor a Vice President-elect is eligible or available to serve.
The 25th Amendment, ratified in 1967, clarified Article II, Section 1: that the Vice President is the direct successor of the President. He or she becomes President if the President cannot serve for whatever reason. The 25th also provides for the situation where the President is temporarily disabled, such as if the President has a surgical procedure or becomes mentally unstable. It also required Vice Presidential vacancies to be filled by the President and confirmed by Congress. Previously, when a Vice President had succeeded to the Presidency or otherwise left the office empty (through death, resignation, or removal from office), the Vice Presidency remained vacant.
more great info here....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_line_of_succession
2006-09-05 11:41:23
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answer #1
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answered by melissa 6
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the Constitution:
Clause 6:
In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office,10 the Same shall devolve on the VicePresident, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.
2006-09-05 18:36:02
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answer #2
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answered by Ford Prefect 7
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Speaker of the house Dennis Hastert is 3 rd,, until the midterms when Republicans are deposed,, then it would be Nancy Pelosi,, as the first woman Democratic speaker, and then the first woman US President...........
2006-09-05 20:06:04
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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try wikipedia.com for more info on government set-up and ops.. usually the chairman of the Congress takes rule until a new President is elected
2006-09-05 18:39:21
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answer #4
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answered by Mary 3
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on the whitehouse bathroom wall
2006-09-05 18:35:27
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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