Order Of Succession Question

[arwalden]

What happens if the President-Elect dies before the inauguration? Is the Vice-President Elect sworn in? Would the current president continue to hold office?

Or would we be in a constitutional crisis for which no contingency plans or order of succession had been established already?

-- Allen

[tom_paine]

1. We're IN a Constitutional Crisis

The Busheviks are shredding the Constitution.

[Shrek]

2. It's ill-defined in current law

Jeff Greenfield wrote a novel about it a while back that actually wasn't too bad. It's a quick read so you might give it a look if you have the time.

[sweetheart]

3. how many are there on the succession list?

What if the top 700 all died in a freak coincidence of car accidents, would they just pick people off the
street and say, "hey", you're president.

Then when that person gets shot, grab someone else. Kinda like a
random monarchy. :-)

[zbird]

4. Here's a good link with the info.

http://www.usatrivia.com/apmsucc.html

To summarize: If P-elect dies before Electoral College meets, then the College can vote for anyone. If P-elect dies after the College meets, then the VP-elect becomes president.

[arwalden]

5. I Have Seen The Google-Champ... It Is Zbird!!!

Thanks for the link!

-- Allen

[arwalden]

6. This Is Scary!!!! Very Scary!!!

AFTER THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE MEETS

If the P-elect should die after the electoral college certifies their votes, the VP-elect would be sworn in as president. If the VP-elect is also unable to serve the normal succession order would take effect as listed on the right side of the page.


1. Vice President Cheney, Richard
2. Speaker of the House Hastert, J. Dennis
3. President pro Tempore of the Senate Thurmond, Strom
4. Secretary of State Powell, Colin L.
5. Secretary of the Treasury O'Neill, Paul H
6. Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, Donald H
7. Attorney General Ashcroft, John
8. Secretary of the Interior Norton, Gale
9. Secretary of Agriculture Veneman, Ann M
10. Secretary of Commerce Evans, Donald L.
11. Secretary of Labor Chao, Elaine L.
12. Sec of Health and Human Services Thompson, Tommy G
13. Sec of Housing Urban Development Martinez, Mel
14. Secretary of Transportation Mineta, Norman Y.
15. Secretary of Energy Abraham, Spencer
16. Secretary of Education Paige, Roderick R
17. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Principi, Anthony J.

[Hippo_Tron]

7. I don't think that's correct...

I think if the VP is unable to serve it goes to the speaker and not the old VP. Not that a DeLay controlled Dennis Hastert would be any better than Dick Chenney, but still.