Changes

The '''Presidential Line of Succession''' charts who is to succeed to the presidency in the event of the death or removal of the incumbent President. There are currently 16 individuals in the line of succession, as it includes the [[Vice President]], [[Speaker of the House of Representatives]], [[President pro tempore of the Senate]] and then the Presidential Cabinet.

The '''Presidential Line of Succession''' charts who is to succeed to the presidency in the event of the death or removal of the incumbent President. There are currently 16 individuals in the line of succession, it includes the [[Vice President]], [[Speaker of the House of Representatives]], [[President pro tem of the Senate]] and then the Presidential Cabinet.

Of the 16 individuals, two are excluded: Secretary of Commerce [[Carlos Gutierrez]] and Secretary of Labor [[Elaine Choao]] are not "native born" citizens. The highest office a person not born in the United States or specified territories can obtain in the United States is [[Secretary of State]].

Of the 16 individuals, two are excluded: Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez and Secretary of Labor [[Elaine Chao]] are not "natural born" citizens. The highest office a person not born in the United States or specified territories can obtain in the United States is [[Secretary of State]].

Events have happened where the Line of Succession was used: various Vice Presidents have risen to the Presidency upon the death or assassination of the incumbent. Most recently, [[Gerald Ford]] assumed the presidency upon the resignation of [[Richard Nixon]] in 1974, and [[Lyndon Johnson]] upon the assassination of [[John F. Kennedy]] in 1963.

Events have happened where the Line of Succession was used: various Vice Presidents have risen to the Presidency upon the death or assassination of the incumbent. Most recently, [[Gerald Ford]] assumed the presidency upon the resignation of [[Richard Nixon]] in 1974, and [[Lyndon Johnson]] upon the assassination of [[John F. Kennedy]] in 1963.

The Presidential Line of Succession as of 2008 is as follows:

The Presidential Line of Succession as of 2008 is as follows:

* 1. '''Vice President of the United States''' (Dick Cheney)

* 1. '''Vice President of the United States''' [[Dick Cheney]]

* 2. '''Speaker of the House of Representatives''' (Nancy Pelosi)

* 2. '''Speaker of the House of Representatives'''[[Nancy Pelosi]]

* 3. '''President ''pro tempore'' of the Senate''' [[Robert Byrd]]

* 3. '''President ''pro tempore'' of the Senate''' [[Robert Byrd]]

* 4. '''Secretary of State''' (Condoleezza Rice)

* 4. '''Secretary of State''' [[Condoleezza Rice]]

* 5. '''Secretary of the Treasury''' (Henry Paulson)

* 5. '''Secretary of the Treasury''' [[Henry Paulson]]

* 6. '''Secretary of Defense''' (Robert Gates)

* 6. '''Secretary of Defense''' [[Robert Gates]]

* 7. '''Attorney General''' (Michael Mukasey)

* 7. '''Attorney General''' [[Michael Mukasey]]

* 8. '''Secretary of the Interior''' (Dirk Kempthorne)

* 8. '''Secretary of the Interior''' [[Dirk Kempthorne]]

* 9. '''Secretary of Agriculture''' (Ed Schafer)

* 9. '''Secretary of Agriculture''' (Ed Schafer)

* NA '''Secretary of Commerce''' (Carlos Gutierrez)  

* NA '''Secretary of Commerce''' (Carlos Gutierrez)

* NA '''Secretary of Labor''' (Elaine Chao)

* NA '''Secretary of Labor''' [[Elaine Chao]]

*10. '''Secretary of Health and Human Services''' (Mike Leavitt)

*10. '''Secretary of Health and Human Services''' (Mike Leavitt)

*11. '''Secretary of Housing and Urban Development''' (Steve Preston)

*11. '''Secretary of Housing and Urban Development''' (Steve Preston)

*14. '''Secretary of Education''' (Margaret Spellings)

*14. '''Secretary of Education''' (Margaret Spellings)

*15. '''Secretary of Veterans Affairs''' (James Peake)

*15. '''Secretary of Veterans Affairs''' (James Peake)

*16. '''Secretary of Homeland Security''' (Michael Chertoff)

*16. '''Secretary of Homeland Security'''[[Michael Chertoff]]

 

[[Category:United States Government]]

[[Category:United States Government]]