1. Presidential Succession

2. Presidential Succession
WHAT:
Is the plan by which a vacancy in the office of President gets filled
25th Amendment (1967)
Established that the Vice President takes over if the President is removed, dies or resigns from office
New President Lyndon Johnson was sworn in aboard Air Force One, following the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963.

3. Presidential Succession
Congress fixed the order of succession if the VP is unable to serve
Vice President
Speaker of the House
President pro tempore of the Senate
Secretary of the Sate
Secretary of the Treasury
Then each of the other heads of the Cabinet
departments (p. 359)

4. What happens if the President becomes disabled. (i. e
What happens if the President becomes disabled ? (i.e., unable to perform his duties)
The 25th Amendment outlines what to do
…The VP becomes acting President if the President tells the Congress he can’t do his job or
if the VP and a majority of the Cabinet tell the Congress that the President is disabled

5. Two Presidents have used the disability provision:
R. Reagan transferred power to George H.W. Bush for 8 hours while having surgery
George W. Bush transferred his power to Dick Cheney for 2 hours during a medical procedure

6. I am nothing, but I may be everything”
Vice President
“I am the Vice President. In this
I am nothing, but I may be everything”
- John Adams, the first VP
46 men have served as VP
14 of these men later became President

7. The VP’s house Official residence for the VP since 1974

8. The Vice President’s Duties
Presides over the Senate
“The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided”
B. Breaks a tie in the Senate
(John Adams cast 29 tie-breaking votes)
C. Helps decide the question of Presidential disability

9. “Balance the ticket” WHAT:
The VP is selected to help the presidential candidate appeal to a broader range of voters
It strengthen his chances to win
They look at his racial, ethnic, gender, ideological characteristics

10. VP Succession
The VP has been vacant 18 times, 9 times by succession to Presidency and 7 times by death, twice due to resignation
The 25th Amendment outlines what to do:
The President nominates a candidate who must be confirmed by a majority vote of both houses
First implemented in 1973

11. The role of the VP has changed in recent years … WHY? HOW?
The media has made the office more important
VP is always in the news
VP is held accountable for the decisions and results of the executive branch
Is a platform to the Presidency
Better qualified candidates
Bill Clinton and G.W. Bush have given their VP’s more power than other Presidents

12. Recent VP’s – Dick Cheney Current: Joe Biden