Order of Presidential Succession
If a U.S. president becomes unable to finish the term — whether by death, resignation, removal, or incapacity — the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 and the U.S. Constitution determine exactly who takes over.
🇺🇸 Order of Presidential Succession
Vice President
Speaker of the House of Representatives
President Pro Tempore of the Senate
Secretary of State
Secretary of the 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 Veterans Affairs
Secretary of Homeland Security
✔️ Additional notes
The Vice President becomes President immediately.
Everyone else in the list acts as President if elevated, unless they meet constitutional eligibility requirements (e.g., natural-born citizen, age 35+, etc.).
No one below the Vice President has ever had to assume the presidency.
