Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Twenty-Fifth Amendment

-Proposed by Congress on July 6, 1965; Declared ratified on February 10, 1967


Section 1
[Vice President to Become President]
"In case of the removal of the President from office or his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President."
Section 2
[Choice of a New Vice President]
"Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, then the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take the office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both houses of Congress."
Section 3
[President May Declare Own Disability]
"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
[Alternate Procedures to Declare and to End Presidential Disability]
"Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principle 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 declarationi 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 principle 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 no in session. If the 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." 

The 25th Amendment is pretty much just for housekeeping. It was passed to clean up some uncertainties in Article II for the presidential succession. If the president dies, resigns or is removed from office, the vice president takes over. If the vice president dies, resigns or is removed from office, the president can choose a new VP, subject to confirmation by Congress. If the president submits written notice that he is no longer able to carry out the duties of his office, for whatever reason, the VP takes over. And last but not least, if the VP and a majority of the cabinet all agree that the president is no longer capable of carrying out the duties of his office, the VP can temporarily take over as Acting President. If the president disputes his removal from office, the Congress must decide whether the president should regain the powers of his office or whether the VP should remain in charge.




If Obama was not born in America, does that mean he must be impeached? Does that mean that Joe Biden must become the next president?

Although many people are calling for his impeachment, mainly from the Republican party, would his successor, the VP according to this amendment, actually appease them? He's Obama's VP for a reason, therefore he would have the same views as President Obama, which really should not bode too well for anyone calling for the president's impeachment.








...Besides the language used in this video which is probably inappropriate for a class project, I think this is a good video to support this amendment. This man clearly has many reasons for why President Obama is unfit for office. Like I mentioned above, if the VP were to take over office, how much more content are those against Obama going to be?

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