The Vice President
• Automatically elected with the President
• Chosen by the Electoral College
• Same qualifications as President
35+ years old
Native-born American citizen
Lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years
VP Powers
• Constitutional Powers
VP shall preside over the Senate
VP will vote in the Senate in the event of a tie
VP becomes president if…
President dies
President is removed from office
President is seriously ill
President resigns from office
Presidential Succession
• Pres. William Henry Harrison dies in office
Major questions about what should be done
Difficulty interpreting the Constitution
• VP John Tyler declared himself President and took the oath of office
Served out the rest of Harrison’s term
• 8 other1841 Vice Presidents have taken over the Presidency after a
President has died or resigned
The Presidential Succession Act
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1947 passed by Congress
Lists who becomes president after the vice president
Presidential Succession
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1. VP
2. Speaker of the House
3. Pro Tempore of the Senate
4. Secretary of State
5. Secretary of the Treasury
6. Secretary of Defense
7. Attorney General
8. Secretary of the Interior
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9. Secretary of Agriculture
. Secretary of Commerce
11. Secretary of Labor
12. Secretary of Health and Human Services
13. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
14. Secretary of Transportation
15. Secretary of Energy
16. Secretary of Education
17. Secretary of Veterans Affairs
18. Secretary of Homeland Security
The Twenty-Fifth Amendment
• Ratified in 1967
• Put into words the VP becomes the president if the president dies or resigns
• Gives the new president the power to choose a new VP
2 Step Process
1. New president Selects a new VP
2. The Senate and the House of Reps must confirm the selection by voting
• Used twice
1973 VP Spiro Agnew resigned
Gerald Ford became new VP
Nixon resigned as president in 1974
Ford names Nelson Rockefeller as the new VP
• Allows VP to become president temporarily
Ex. 1985 Pres. Reagan had major surgery
VP George. H. W. Bush served as president for 8 hours