1. Quick Overview

2. Job of the VP
 Becomes Pres if Pres dies or is unable
to govern
Order of succession cleaned up by the passage of
the 25th Amendment
 Little Real Power
Presides over the Senate
○ Votes in case of tie
Provides balance to president
○ GWB lacked foreign policy experience, so he brought in
Cheney
Balances the ticket
○ Get votes from places that would not vote for Pres himself
○ Power has conceptually increased since 1990s
(with Cheney’s assumed responsibilities)

3. Presidential Succession
 Pres
 VP
 Speaker of the House -
 President pro tempore of the Senate
Daniel Inouye
 Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton
 Secretary of the Treasury Timothy
Geithner

4. The others…
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