If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president? — Answer & Explanation

Official Question & Answer

Question

If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?

✦ OFFICIAL ANSWER ✦

The Vice President (of the United States)

Why This Is the Answer

If the President can no longer serve, the Vice President becomes President. This is established in the Constitution and has happened nine times in American history.

The full line of succession is: Vice President → Speaker of the House → President Pro Tempore of the Senate → Secretary of State, and so on through the Cabinet. The 25th Amendment (1967) clarified the succession process.

A President might be unable to serve due to death, resignation, removal from office, or incapacitation. The most recent example of succession was Gerald Ford becoming President after Richard Nixon resigned in 1974.

💡 Interview Tip

Say: 'The Vice President.'

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