The Executive Branch
5.4: Presidential Succession
Today’s Agenda
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Check and go over HW (5.3 Electing the President)
5.4 Slide Show
Homework
Look over Chapter 5 notes for Quiz Thursday
The Roman Empire was vast and powerful. But
it had one major flaw.
Beware the Ides of March
Why Rome Fell.
• One of the primary reasons the Roman Empire
collapsed was because it lacked a clear line of
succession. When Julius Caesar was assassinated in
44 BC, various factions began to fight for control of
the government. The Roman Senate, Mark Anthony
& Cleopatra and Caesar’s 18 year old nephew,
Octavius all asserted that they were the rightful
claimants to the throne. During a 33 year period in
the mid 200s AD, there were fourteen “barracks
emperors” who took control by assassinating their
predecessor. As a result, the Roman Empire
gradually began to crumble from within.
What about America?
What is Presidential Succession?
• Presidential Succession
– plan by which a presidential vacancy is
filled
• 25th Amendment (1967)
– Vice President will become President if
the President is removed from office
• Presidential Succession Act
– set the order of succession following the
Vice President
• There is never a question as to who will be
in charge
What if the president becomes unable to serve?
• 25th Amendment provides procedures to follow
when the President is disabled
• Vice President becomes acting President if
• the President informs Congress “that he is
unable to discharge the powers and duties of
his office,” or
• the Vice President and a majority of members
the Cabinet inform Congress that the
President is thus incapacitated
• Ronald Reagan began to show signs of
Alzheimer’s disease during his second term
• public largely unaware of his condition
Begin 1:57:00
Skip to 2:14:20
What are the duties of the Vice Presidency?
• Constitution only gives the Vice
President two duties besides
becoming President if the
President is removed from
office:
1) preside over the Senate
2) help decide the question of
presidential disability
• Today, the Vice President often
performs diplomatic and
political chores for the
President
Ticket Out
Reading Comprehension Activity
• Read page 108 in your textbook and answer questions 1-5 (IN
COMPLETE SENTENCES)