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Presidential Succession - Order of Presidential Succession

Who Takes Over if the President Dies?

By Martin Kelly, About.com

In 1947, the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 was signed into law by Harry Truman. This act set the order of presidential succession that is still followed today. This order is followed if the president dies or is incapacitated. The order of cabinet officers included in the list is determined by the dates on which each of their positions was created.
  • Vice President
  • Speaker of the House
  • President pro tempore of the Senate
  • Secretary of State
  • Secretary of Treasury
  • 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

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