Amendment 25: Established VP as successor if P is unable to serve, P can nominate a VP if there is a VP vacancy



Section 1.
In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.
Section 2.
Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
Section 3.
Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.
Section 4.
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, 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, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
 
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days 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. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.

This amendment is prevalent because there have been times in history when a President has had to be impeached from office and someone has to take over in their place. Without having the 25th amendment it would not be clear as to what process to take in this type of situation. The detail of the amendment covers not only the removal from office but also the return coving multiple situations. The position of Vice President almost takes a new form of importance as they could also be in charge, so when voting that is something to further consider.




Here we get a look at how the 25th could possibly apply to our current President, and it does a really good job at breaking down this longer amendment. Specifically referring to Section 4 as the means of removal by saying Trump is unable to fulfill his duties it would take a huge number of executive officers and 2/3rds of Congress to make this a reality. It made a good point of stating it is more likely for him to be impeached before the 25th amendment is used to remove him from office. It was a great overview here and how it would realistically apply to our current situation.




This is an actual example of President Bush using the 25th amendment during a medical procedure. Stating the use of Section 3, since he would be under anesthesia he was giving the powers temporarily to the Vice President. This example defines how these amendments can be used more practically if a President is ever going to have surgery, or even diagnosed with a handicap that they would leave them unfit to perform their duties. Having this in place covers almost all of the things that could happen to a President and the procedures to follow.


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