If both the President and Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

Prepare for the Texas Citizenship Test with our comprehensive quiz. Study using flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and detailed explanations to help you ace the exam.

When both the President and Vice President are unable to serve due to reasons such as death, resignation, or removal from office, the next in line to assume the presidency is the Speaker of the House of Representatives. This line of succession is established by the Presidential Succession Act and ensures the continuity of government leadership.

The Speaker of the House is elected by the members of the House and is typically a senior member of the majority party. This role is important as it represents the legislative branch and is a key figure in the political landscape of the United States. By assigning the presidency to the Speaker in such a scenario, the process maintains a level of democratic legitimacy and stability, as the Speaker is chosen by elected representatives.

The other options do not follow the established line of succession. The Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense are part of the President's Cabinet and do not have precedence over the Speaker. The Chief Justice's role is to oversee the judicial branch and does not enter into the presidential succession line either. Thus, the Speaker of the House is the correct answer for this scenario of presidential succession.

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