← Back

June 6, 2018

#2003: Presidential Succession

Presidential Succession

A proposal for a new presidential line of succession

Current politics aside, most experts agree the existing process is flawed. The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 is probably unconstitutional on several counts, and there are many practical issues with the system as well.

(For more, see the surprisingly gripping Second Report of the Continuity of Government Commission, June 2009.)

Proposed line of succession:

  1. President
  2. Vice president
  3. Secretary of State
  4. Secretary of Defense
  5. Secretary of Homeland Security
  6. Attorney General
  7. Five people who do not live in Washington DC, nominated at the start of the president’s term and confirmed by the Senate
  8. Tom Hanks
  9. State Governors, in descending order of state population at last census
  10. Anyone who won an Oscar for playing a governor
  11. Anyone who won a Governor’s award for playing someone named Oscar
  12. Kate McKinnon, if available
  13. Billboard year-end Hot 100 singles artists #1 through #10 (for groups, whoever is credited first in name, liner notes, etc)
  14. The top 5 US astronauts in descending order of total spaceflight time
  15. Serena Williams (or, if she lost her most recent match, whoever beat her)
  16. The most recent season NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL MVPs
  17. Bull Pullman and his descendants by absolute primogeniture
  18. The entire line of succession to the British throne
  19. The current champion of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating contest
  20. All other US citizens, chosen by a 29-round single-elimination Jousting tournament