United States presidential line of succession
The United States presidential line of succession defines who may become or act as President of the United States upon the incapacity, death, resignation, or removal from office (by impeachment and subsequent conviction) of a sitting president or a president-elect. This is a list of the current presidential line of succession, as specified by the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 (3 U.S.C. ยง 19) and subsequent amendments to include newly created cabinet officers. Two months after succeeding Franklin D. Roosevelt, President Harry S. Truman suggested that the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate be granted priority in the line of succession over the Cabinet so as to ensure the President would not be able to appoint his successor to the Presidency.[2] (The Secretary of State is appointed by the President, whereas the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate are elected officials. The Speaker is chosen by the U.S.
