Twenty-Fifth Amendment

Ratified February 10, 1967


The twenty-fifth amendment states...
      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 th epowers 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.


What it means to me...
      This amendment basically layed out the plan of succession for Presidents and gave an outline for President and Vice President power in case of vacancy or resignation.


The following is a newspaper article regarding the first Presidential resignation...

When President Nixon resigned from his Presidency, Ford was the one to take his place, as stated by the 25th amendment.

The following is a video relating to the 25th amendment...

In this video, Alec Baldwin reads the 25th amendment at People For the American Way Foundation's Constitution Reading  at the Great Hall at Cooper Union in New York. This event took place on September 1, 2004.