Thomas H. Neale

“ If both the Speaker and the President pro tempore decline the office, or fail to qualify for any reason, then the acting presidency would devolve upon the head of the most senior executive department (Department of State) . The other cabinet secretaries would be similarly eligible in the order of their department’s seniority. [10] By taking the oath of office as Acting President, they would automatically vacate their appointment as a Cabinet officer, thus avoiding the prohibition against dual office holding. ”

“ Specialist in American National Government
↑ The Constitution’s original provisions (Article II, Section 1) required each elector to cast two undifferentiated votes for President—one each for two preferred candidates. There was no separate electoral vote for Vice President. Failing (or having been unwilling) to anticipate the growth of political parties that would offer unified tickets of a presidential and vice presidential nominee, the Constitutional Convention had not provided distinct votes for the two executive offices. ”

“ An Overview with Analysis of Legislation Proposed in the 108th Congress, by Thomas H. Neale. ↑ CRS general distribution memorandum, Would the District of Columbia Be Allowed to Vote in the Selection of the President by the House of Representatives, by Thomas B. Ripy, July 7, 1980 (available to congressional clients upon request from the author of this report) . ↑ It would, however, preserve a small arithmetical advantage for less populous states, analogous to the advantage they currently enjoy in the allocation of House seats. ”