National Constitution Center | The 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

 What Is 25th Amendment

The Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution deals with issues related to presidential succession and disability.

25th Amendment

Recent News About 25th Amendment

Section 1

The Vice President shall become the President in the event of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation. 

Section 2

The President shall, if there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice-President, select a Vice-President who shall, upon approval by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress, assume office.

Section 3

Whenever the President transmits his written declaration to the President pro tempore of the Senate and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written statement to the contrary, the Vice President shall discharge those powers and duties as Acting President.

Section 4

If, by statute, the Vice-President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of some such body as Congress may have, the Vice-President shall transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and obligations of his office, the Vice-President shall immediately transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. 

Subsequently, until the President transmits his formal declaration to the President pro tempore of the Senate and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives that there is no incapacity, he shall restore the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice-President and a majority of the principal officers of the executive branch or of any other body as may be provided for by law by Congress,

Within four days, the President shall send his formal statement to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives that the President is unable to perform the powers and duties of his office.

While Congress is not in session, the Vice-President shall begin to discharge the powers and duties of his office within twenty-one days after Congress is obliged to meet by a two-thirds majority of both houses; otherwise, the President shall assume the powers and duties of his office. If Congress is not in session, the Vice-President shall continue to discharge the powers and duties of his office as Acting President.

What is the 25th Amendment in simple terms?

The Twenty-fifth Amendment (Amendment XXV) to the United States Constitution says that if the President becomes unable to do his job, the Vice President becomes the President. This can happen for just a little while, if the President is just sick or disabled for a short time.

What is the main purpose of the 25th Amendment?

It clarifies that if the president dies, resigns, or is suspended from office, the vice president becomes president (as opposed to the acting president), and lays out guidelines for filling a vacancy in the vice president's office and for reacting to presidential disabilities.