by george barnard » Sun Apr 22, 2012 2:17 am
[quote:6457da6afc]"If the President dies in office, the Vice President is sworn in as the succeeding President."
Technically you're right, but .... [/quote:6457da6afc]
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 the powers 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.
The 25th Amendment was formally adopted in February 1967 and got rid of the ambiguous language of Article II, Section 1, Clause 6 of the Constitution.
My original point was obviously not to deny the home team rules of MLB, but just to point out that what we consider normal rules today are the result of changes over the years. 1950 is relatively late in baseball's evolution; convention had dictated that the home team bat first, but not the rules. Your example is well-taken and confirms my point: 1967 is even later in terms of American history; convention dictated that the government continue despite the problems of succession. Some people just assume that because it is the way it is that it means that it was the way it is.
Now let's just calm down and have some fun.
Bill
BTW have you checked to see if 17 of 18 rolls ever went for you? :P