Presidential Succession

Presidential Succession Scheme by which a presidential vacancy is filled

25th Amendment

Order is: 1. Vice President2. Speaker of the House3. President Pro Tempore

Followed by the 15 cabinet members in the order in which the offices were created

Vice President Presides over the

Senate

#14 O

Joe Biden

Speaker of the House Leader of the House

of Representatives

#15 N

John Boehner

President Pro Tempore Presides over the

Senate in the absence of the Vice President

#16 B

Patrick Leahy

4. Secretary of State Deals with foreign

affairs

Negotiates with foreign representatives

Advises the President on foreign affairs

#1 MJohn Kerry

5. Secretary of the Treasury Principal economic

advisor to the President

Helps create domestic and international economic policies

#2 CJack Lew

6. Secretary of Defense Principal defense

policy advisor to the President

Responsible for forming defense policies

#3 DChuck Hagle

7. Attorney General Head of the United

States Justice Department

Chief lawyer for the U.S. Government

#17 KEric H. Holder Jr.

8. Secretary of the Interior Responsible for

policies involving federally owned land

Wildlife refuges, National Parks

#18 LSally Jewell

9. Secretary of Agriculture Responsible for

policies involving food and agriculture.

Helps farmers

#4 J

Thomas Vilsack

10. Secretary of Commerce Concerned with

business and industry

Develop foreign and domestic commerce

#5 APenny Pritzker

11. Secretary of Labor Enforces and

suggests laws involving unions, the workplace, and any form of business to person relations

#6 P

Thomas Perez

12. Secretary of Health and Human Services

Protects the health of all Americans

Improve the health, safety, and well-being of Americans

#7 IKathleen Sebelius

13. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Urban housing matters

develop and execute policy on housing and cities

#8 Q

Shaun L.S. Donovan

14. Secretary of Transportation Develops plan for a

fast, safe, and efficient transportation system

#9 R

Anthony Foxx

15. Secretary of Energy

Creates policies involving energy production and regulation

#10 G

Ernest Moniz

16. Secretary of Education Formulates federal

funding programs involving education

Enforces federal educational laws

#11 E

Arne Duncan

17. Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Deals with policies involving veteran’s benefits

#12 F

Eric Shinseki

18. Secretary of Homeland Security

Creates policies to help protect America and its citizens

#13 H

Jeh Johnson