What Is the Definition of Presidential Succession?
The U.S. presidential line of succession is the set order of officials who act as the President of the United States if the president dies, becomes incapacitated, resigns or is removed from office by impeachment. The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 was signed into law by Harry Truman in 1947.
The order of presidential succession is Vice President, Speaker of the House, President pro tempore of the Senate, Secretary of State, Secretary of 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 Veteran’s Affairs and Secretary of Homeland Security. The order of the cabinet members in the line of presidential succession is determined by the date that each position is created.
