Presidential line of succession
The presidential line of succession establishes who becomes or acts as president if the president is unable to serve. The vice president is first in line; further succession is set by federal statute and limited by constitutional eligibility (natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, 14 years’ residency).
Order of succession
- Vice President of the United States
- Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
- President pro tempore of the United States Senate
- Secretary of State
- Secretary of the Treasury
- Secretary of Defense
- Attorney General
- Secretary of the Interior
- Secretary of Agriculture
- Secretary of Commerce
- Secretary of Labor
- Secretary of Health and Human Services
- Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
- Secretary of Transportation
- Secretary of Energy
- Secretary of Education
- Secretary of Veterans Affairs
- Secretary of Homeland Security
Acting vs. becoming president
When the president is alive but unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office, the Twenty-Fifth Amendment allows the vice president to serve as Acting President until the president resumes duties or a vacancy occurs.
Eligibility and skipping
An officer in the line who does not meet constitutional requirements, is not confirmed by the Senate, or is otherwise unavailable is skipped over to the next eligible officer.