Browse by Category - Featured Fast Fact - Random Pick

United States - Presidential Succession

Question:

If the president and vice-president die, who is next in line to be president?

Answer:

The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 determines the sequence of succession if both the president and vice president die or become disqualified. The sequence of presidential succession is as follows:

1. Speaker of the House
2. President Pro Tempore of the Senate
3. Secretary of State
4. Secretary of the Treasury
5. Secretary of Defense
6. Attorney General
7. Secretary of the Interior
8. Secretary of Agriculture
9. Secretary of Commerce
10. Secretary of Labor
11. Secretary of Health and Human Services
12. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
13. Secretary of Transportation
14. Secretary of Energy
15. Secretary of Education

In order to succeed to the presidency, these officials must still fulfill the Constitutional requirements to become president.

Answer from:

The World Book Encyclopedia Volume 15 (P) 2003 edition World Book, Inc., Chicago 2003 pg. 771

Last updated June 1, 2005