Presidential Succession and Presidential Selection Presidential Succession Presidential

Presidential Succession and Presidential Selection

Presidential Succession �Presidential Succession = the plan by which a vacancy in the Presidency is filled �If the Presidents dies, resigns, or removed from office, who fills his role? �Not established in the Constitution � Vice President in Practice � John Tyler succeeds William Henry Harrison

Presidential Succession � 25 th Amendment (1967) �Vice President � “In case of removal of the President from office or his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President” �Presidential Succession Act of 1947 �After the Vice President � 1) Speaker of the House � 2) President Pro Tempore of the Senate � 3) Secretary of State � 4 and on - Head of Cabinet departments by order of creation

Presidential Disability �There were many problems associated with Presidential Succession prior to the 25 th Amendment! �What happens if a President is unable to perform their duties? Becomes disabled in some way? �Who decides if the President is unable to perform their duties?

Presidential Disability �Presidents Eisenhower, Garfield and Wilson � 25 th Amendment (sections 3 & 4)addresses this issue! �The Vice President is to become Acting President if (1) the President informs Congress, in writing, “that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, ” or (2) the Vice President and a majority of the members of the Cabinet inform Congress, in writing, that the President is so incapacitated.

Presidential Disability �The President may resume his office by informing Congress that the disability no longer exists �Vice President and Cabinet may challenge � Congress then has 21 days to decide the matter �Disability provision of the 25 th Amendment has only come into play twice �Ronald Reagan �George W. Bush

The Vice President �“I am Vice President. In this I am nothing, but I may be everything. ” – John Adams �What did John Adams mean by this?

The Vice President �Constitution says little about the Vice President; assigns the position only two formal duties � 1) to preside over the Senate (President of the Senate) � Break ties � 2) to help decide the question of presidential disability �Position of V. P. = President in Waiting �“only a heartbeat away from the Presidency”

Selection a V. P. Candidate �Vice Presidential candidates usually chosen to “balance the ticket” �A person who will strengthen the presidential candidates chances of winning �A person of certain ideological, geographic, racial, ethnic, gender, or other characteristics � Presidential succession not a high priority in selecting a V. P.