Pelosi is constantly in the news re the CIA briefing. Almost every
newscaster claims she is third-in-line for the Presidency.

I don't get it. Isn't the Vice President first-in-line? Wouldn't that make
Pelosi second-in-line? The above reasoning assumes that Obama is not
waiting in line. He is already the President.

What gives?

Ivan Vegvary

"Ivan Vegvary" wrote:

Pelosi is constantly in the news re the CIA briefing. Almost every
newscaster claims she is third-in-line for the Presidency.

I don't get it. Isn't the Vice President first-in-line? Wouldn't that make
Pelosi second-in-line? The above reasoning assumes that Obama is not
waiting in line. He is already the President.

What gives?

IIRC, the VP once upon a time was the guy that got the second highest number votes, iow,
from the other party so to say, so skipping him to go to the speaker of the house made
sense.

Wes
--
"Additionally as a security officer, I carry a gun to protect
government officials but my life isn't worth protecting at home
in their eyes." Dick Anthony Heller

On Jun 3, 12:40*am, "Ivan Vegvary" wrote:
Pelosi is constantly in the news re the CIA briefing. *Almost every
newscaster claims she is third-in-line for the Presidency.

I don't get it. *Isn't the Vice President first-in-line? *Wouldn't that make
Pelosi second-in-line? *The above reasoning assumes that Obama is not
waiting in line. *He is already the President.

What gives?

Ivan Vegvary


U.S. Code
TITLE 3 CHAPTER 1 § 19

§ 19. Vacancy in offices of both President and Vice President;
officers eligible to act
How Current is This?
(a)
(1) If, by reason of death, resignation, removal from office,
inability, or failure to qualify, there is neither a President nor
Vice President to discharge the powers and duties of the office of
President, then the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall,
upon his resignation as Speaker and as Representative in Congress, act
as President.
(2) The same rule shall apply in the case of the death, resignation,
removal from office, or inability of an individual acting as President
under this subsection.
(b) If, at the time when under subsection (a) of this section a
Speaker is to begin the discharge of the powers and duties of the
office of President, there is no Speaker, or the Speaker fails to
qualify as Acting President, then the President pro tempore of the
Senate shall, upon his resignation as President pro tempore and as
Senator, act as President.
(c) An individual acting as President under subsection (a) or
subsection (b) of this section shall continue to act until the
expiration of the then current Presidential term, except that—
(1) if his discharge of the powers and duties of the office is founded
in whole or in part on the failure of both the President-elect and the
Vice-President-elect to qualify, then he shall act only until a
President or Vice President qualifies; and
(2) if his discharge of the powers and duties of the office is founded
in whole or in part on the inability of the President or Vice
President, then he shall act only until the removal of the disability
of one of such individuals.
(d)
(1) If, by reason of death, resignation, removal from office,
inability, or failure to qualify, there is no President pro tempore to
act as President under subsection (b) of this section, then the
officer of the United States who is highest on the following list, and
who is not under disability to discharge the powers and duties of the
office of President shall act as President: Secretary of State,
Secretary of the 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.
(2) An individual acting as President under this subsection shall
continue so to do until the expiration of the then current
Presidential term, but not after a qualified and prior-entitled
individual is able to act, except that the removal of the disability
of an individual higher on the list contained in paragraph (1) of this
subsection or the ability to qualify on the part of an individual
higher on such list shall not terminate his service.
(3) The taking of the oath of office by an individual specified in the
list in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be held to constitute
his resignation from the office by virtue of the holding of which he
qualifies to act as President.
(e) Subsections (a), (b), and (d) of this section shall apply only to
such officers as are eligible to the office of President under the
Constitution. Subsection (d) of this section shall apply only to
officers appointed, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate,
prior to the time of the death, resignation, removal from office,
inability, or failure to qualify, of the President pro tempore, and
only to officers not under impeachment by the House of Representatives
at the time the powers and duties of the office of President devolve
upon them.
(f) During the period that any individual acts as President under this
section, his compensation shall be at the rate then provided by law in
the case of the President.

"rangerssuck" wrote in message
...
On Jun 3, 12:40 am, "Ivan Vegvary" wrote:
Pelosi is constantly in the news re the CIA briefing. Almost every
newscaster claims she is third-in-line for the Presidency.

I don't get it. Isn't the Vice President first-in-line? Wouldn't that make
Pelosi second-in-line? The above reasoning assumes that Obama is not
waiting in line. He is already the President.

What gives?

Ivan Vegvary


U.S. Code
TITLE 3 CHAPTER 1 § 19

§ 19. Vacancy in offices of both President and Vice President;
officers eligible to act
How Current is This?
(a)
(1) If, by reason of death, resignation, removal from office,
inability, or failure to qualify, there is neither a President nor
Vice President to discharge the powers and duties of the office of
President, then the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall,
upon his resignation as Speaker and as Representative in Congress, act
as President.
(2) The same rule shall apply in the case of the death, resignation,
removal from office, or inability of an individual acting as President
under this subsection.
(b) If, at the time when under subsection (a) of this section a
Speaker is to begin the discharge of the powers and duties of the
office of President, there is no Speaker, or the Speaker fails to
qualify as Acting President, then the President pro tempore of the
Senate shall, upon his resignation as President pro tempore and as
Senator, act as President.
(c) An individual acting as President under subsection (a) or
subsection (b) of this section shall continue to act until the
expiration of the then current Presidential term, except that—
(1) if his discharge of the powers and duties of the office is founded
in whole or in part on the failure of both the President-elect and the
Vice-President-elect to qualify, then he shall act only until a
President or Vice President qualifies; and
(2) if his discharge of the powers and duties of the office is founded
in whole or in part on the inability of the President or Vice
President, then he shall act only until the removal of the disability
of one of such individuals.
(d)
(1) If, by reason of death, resignation, removal from office,
inability, or failure to qualify, there is no President pro tempore to
act as President under subsection (b) of this section, then the
officer of the United States who is highest on the following list, and
who is not under disability to discharge the powers and duties of the
office of President shall act as President: Secretary of State,
Secretary of the 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.
(2) An individual acting as President under this subsection shall
continue so to do until the expiration of the then current
Presidential term, but not after a qualified and prior-entitled
individual is able to act, except that the removal of the disability
of an individual higher on the list contained in paragraph (1) of this
subsection or the ability to qualify on the part of an individual
higher on such list shall not terminate his service.
(3) The taking of the oath of office by an individual specified in the
list in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be held to constitute
his resignation from the office by virtue of the holding of which he
qualifies to act as President.
(e) Subsections (a), (b), and (d) of this section shall apply only to
such officers as are eligible to the office of President under the
Constitution. Subsection (d) of this section shall apply only to
officers appointed, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate,
prior to the time of the death, resignation, removal from office,
inability, or failure to qualify, of the President pro tempore, and
only to officers not under impeachment by the House of Representatives
at the time the powers and duties of the office of President devolve
upon them.
(f) During the period that any individual acts as President under this
section, his compensation shall be at the rate then provided by law in
the case of the President.

Thanks, I understand all the above. My question is simply why in
'news-speak' the phrase "third in line" since she is obviously "second in
line".

Ivan Vegvary

On Jun 3, 10:38*am, "Ivan Vegvary" wrote:
"rangerssuck" wrote in message

...
On Jun 3, 12:40 am, "Ivan Vegvary" wrote:

Thanks, I understand all the above. *My question is simply why in
'news-speak' the phrase "third in line" since she is obviously "second in
line".

Ivan Vegvary

Maybe because news people are, generally, pretty moronic. Other than
that, maybe they think the Oval Office is the front of the line, so
that would make the sitting President "First in Line." Doesn't make
much sense, though.

"Ivan Vegvary" wrote:


Thanks, I understand all the above. My question is simply why in
'news-speak' the phrase "third in line" since she is obviously "second in
line".


First in line is the elected President. Sorry didn't understand your original question.

Wes

Off by one. I know the big "O" is there - but he is #1 in line. The line
starts with his station. The line is long, but sometimes not to be thought
long enough.

Martin

Ivan Vegvary wrote:
Pelosi is constantly in the news re the CIA briefing. Almost every
newscaster claims she is third-in-line for the Presidency.

I don't get it. Isn't the Vice President first-in-line? Wouldn't that
make Pelosi second-in-line? The above reasoning assumes that Obama is
not waiting in line. He is already the President.

What gives?

Ivan Vegvary