1. Presidential Succession and the Vice President
“I am Vice President. In this I am nothing, but I may be everything.”
– John Adams (VP to George Washington)

2. Role of the Vice President Constitution
To be president of the Senate
Next in line to Presidency Will help decide the question of presidential disability
Nothing else is stated in the constitution. Do you think the constitution should be amended to provide the VP with more explicit or expanded powers?

3. The Vice President Informal
Advise the president!!
Breaks a tie in the electoral college!!
Didn’t specifically say if VP will assume role of president or as “acting” president until the 25th Amendment.
VP usually determined by relationship w/ president. EXAMPLE: Al Gore advised Clinton on foreign policy and environment (mostly).
VP also serves as Chief of State when pres cannot.

4. 25th Amendment
25th Amendment (1967) provided for the succession of office
Presidential succession: A presidential vacancy is filled. If a president dies, resigns or is impeached, the Vice President succeeds
to the office.
1. Originally, the Constitution did not provide for the succession of the Vice President. Instead, the “powers and duties” were transferred, not the title 2.

5. Problems with succession?
Presidential Disability: The Constitution did not have a provision for deciding when a president was disabled, or anything to indicate by whom the decision was to be made.
The VP 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 VP and a majority of the Cabinet inform Congress in writing that the President is incapacitated.

6. Line of succession TOP 5 Vice President 2. Speaker of the House
3. President Pro Tempore of the Senate
4. Secretary of State
5. Secretary of the Treasury