AAG.VP/ Prez Succession

THE VICE PRESIDENT AND THE ORDER OF SUCCESSION

Chapter 8, Section 1

Role of the Vice President 2 Constitutional Duties:

Preside over Senate, cast a tie-breaking vote

Assume the duties of the president Death, resignation, impeachment

Vice President

Recently, VP’s have become more involved and powerful (Cheney)

Throughout most of US history, VP’s have done relatively little

“Balancing the Ticket”VP’s are often chosen based on their ability to

appeal to a different segment of the population

Geographically Politically

Still the same party, but slightly different ideas Personality –

Make the president look smart? Personal characteristics –

Gender, racial, even religious

VPs also may be chosen to fill a perceived weakness with presidential candidate.

“Balancing the Ticket” Can you figure out how these VP candidates

“balanced” their “tickets”? Geographically? Politically? Personality? Personal Characteristics?

A Heartbeat Away…

So the VP is next in line, and one of his major functions is just to be ready in case the President can’t be President. But what happens if both the President and the VP

are unable to serve at the same time? We have a plan for who would take over if that

should happen…

It’s called, the “Order of Succession”…

The Order of Succession to the Presidency

What does “Order of Succession” mean? Definition: the order in which officials fill the

office of the president in case of a vacancy How was the order determined?

Article II of the Constitution Acts of Congress The 25th amendment.

Constitution- Article II, Section 1 Establishes that the VP assumes duties of the

President **Leaves many questions unanswered-how long,

new VP?

Presidential Succession Act (1947) Established the current “order of succession” –list of

positions (in order) of who would take over the presidency

1. Vice President2. Speaker of the House3. President pro tempore of

the Senate4. Secretary of State5. Secretary of the Treasury 6. Secretary of Defense 7. Attorney General

- 11 other Cabinet departments follow, last is dept. of homeland security

Line of Presidential Succession

1. Vice President – Joe Biden2. Speaker of the House- Nancy Pelosi3. President pro tempore of the Senate -

Robert Byrd4. Secretary of State-Hillary Rodham Clinton5. Secretary of the Treasury- Timothy Geithner6. Secretary of Defense- Robert Gates7. Attorney General- Eric Holder8. ……

25th Amendment (1967) Specified rules for what happens when

the president or VP position is vacant.

VP becomes President, names a new VP Congress approves new VP with majority

Presidential disability Prez (or VP and majority of Cabinet) inform Congress that Prez is disabled, VP becomes President

Pop Quiz: What are the original 3 “formal” Constitutional

requirements for the President? List 4 common characteristics of past presidents. What government position have many president’s held

just prior to becoming president? (answers may vary) Give an example of one duty performed by the

President. What are the only 2 constitutional duties of the Vice

President? After the VP, list the next 3 positions in the OoS. Describe what happens if the VP position becomes

vacant. **Bonus Question:…