If this happens...

Thunder · #1 (**permalink**) 09-07-2008, 03:20 PM

If McCain wins and taking the oath of duty into office, but dies the next day. What will happen? Is there a requirement as to how long a President has to be in order to pass onto the VP? Is it possible that Palin could be passed on the Presidency if McCain dies the day after the oath?

(Feds, there is no need to send agents to my house. lol)

What about if something unexpected happens with McCain or Obama prior the election, will it be delayed or all will continue as VP will gain Presidency?

If any sort of events above happens, the VP becomes President, will that person be able to choose a VP?

jsibelius · #2 (**permalink**) 09-07-2008, 04:26 PM

Once the president takes the oath, if he dies, presidency goes to the VP. Length of time in office has no bearing. They made sure to cover this after William Henry Harrison died after a scant month in office back in 1841. What happens if someone dies before the election, though, I have no idea. Although you can't really tell from the headline, here's an article that "sort of" addresses that question: What would happen if the McCain campaign had to ditch Sarah Palin? - By Jacob Leibenluft - Slate Magazine

jbrown84 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-07-2008, 07:02 PM

I would think in the case of Obama, if something happened to him pre-election, there would certainly be a cry for Hillary to take his place as the primary runner up. I would think that would be the SOP anyway. As for McCain, as much energy as Palin's brought to the campain, I doubt the GOP would be stupid enough to put her at the top of the ticket in that event.

And if she were to take over him after being in office, I'm pretty sure she gets to pick her new VP, but I'm basing that off the TV show Commander in Chief (R.I.P.), lol.

venture79 · #4 (**permalink**) 09-07-2008, 07:18 PM

Here ya go...

U.S. Senate: Art & History Home > People > Officers & Staff > Vice President of the United States (President of the Senate)

Quote:

Finally, after the death of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 and the resulting vice-presidential vacancy, Congress debated what became the second constitutional amendment related to the structure of the vice-presidency. In 1967, the Twenty-fifth Amendment, addressing presidential vacancy and disability, became part of our Constitution. The absence of any provision for filling a vice-presidential vacancy had become intolerable in the nuclear age. Added impetus for the change came from a growing public concern at the time about the advanced ages of President pro tempore Carl Hayden, who was eighty, and House Speaker John W. McCormack, who was seventy-six. The amendment states that the president may appoint a vice president to fill a vacancy in that office, subject to approval by both houses of Congress. Before a decade had passed, the provision was used twice, first in 1973 when President Nixon appointed Gerald R. Ford to replace Spiro Agnew, who had resigned, and again in 1974, with the appointment of Nelson Rockefeller after Nixon himself resigned and Ford became president. The amendment also sets forth very specifically the steps that would permit the vice president to serve as acting president if a president becomes "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office." Each of these changes further reflected the increased importance of the office.

jbrown84 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-07-2008, 07:23 PM

Yeah that's it. Much like any other presidential appointment, it has to be approved by the legislature.

Toadrax · #6 (**permalink**) 09-07-2008, 10:40 PM

What is more interesting is what happens if McCain dies between the election and when the electoral college votes

RabidRed · #7 (**permalink**) 09-07-2008, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toadrax

What is more interesting is what happens if McCain dies between the election and when the electoral college votes

Or Obama....

Oh dang it I was trying to be civil. lol

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