U.S. Presidential line of succession facts for kids

The United States Presidential line of succession is the special order of people who would become President if the current President cannot do their job. This happens if the President dies, resigns, or is removed from office. If the President leaves office, the Vice President becomes President for the rest of the term. If the Vice President also cannot serve, then other government officials are next in line.

How the Line of Succession Started

The U.S. Constitution says that the Vice President of the United States is the first person to replace the President. This rule has always been in place.

Early Rules for Succession

The first laws about who would become President after the Vice President were made in 1792. Back then, the leader of the Senate, called the President Pro Tempore, was next in line. After them came the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In 1868, something interesting happened. President Andrew Johnson was almost removed from office. If he had been, the leader of the Senate at that time, Benjamin Wade, would have become President. But President Johnson was found not guilty by just one vote. He had become President after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. At that time, there was no Vice President, which made the situation even more important.

Changes to the Succession Order

In 1886, after Vice President Thomas A. Hendricks died, Congress changed the law. They removed the leaders of the Senate and House from the line of succession. Instead, the Secretary of State became next in line after the Vice President. Other leaders from the President's Cabinet followed.

However, the leaders of the Senate and House were put back into the line of succession in 1947. This was done by a law called the Presidential Succession Act.

Who is Next in Line Today?

Here is the current order of who would become President of the United States:

See also

In Spanish: L%C3%ADnea de sucesi%C3%B3n presidencial de los Estados Unidos para ni%C3%B1os