Order of Succession to the Presidency

The list of U.S. officials entitled to serve as acting president is quite long, beginning with the vice president and including the speaker of the House of Representatives and members of the president's cabinet.

Line of Succession

The list of succession includes 18 officials. It begins with the vice president, followed by the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate. Next in line is the secretary of state, followed by other secretaries and the attorney general. The list ends with the secretary of homeland security.

Succession Law

The order of succession--in the event of a president's incapacitation, death, resignation or impeachment, or if he is unable to hold office for other reason--was set by the Presidential Succession Act of 1947. The successor must be at least 35 years old, a native-born U.S. citizen and a U.S. resident for at least 14 years. If a candidate does not meet any of these conditions, the presidency is passed to the next in line.

Order

When Vice President Harry Truman became president after Franklin Roosevelt's death in 1945, he suggested placing the speaker of the House as the next in line. His reasoning was that the speaker was an elected official and the chosen leader of the elected representatives of the people.

References

• Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids: Order of Succession
• U.S. Constitution Online: Presidential Line of Succession

Resources

• Doctor Zebra: Succession to the Presidency: A Chronology