<P> Widely considered a settled issue during the late 20th century, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 demonstrated the potential for a decapitation strike that would kill or incapacitate multiple individuals in the presidential line of succession, in addition to many members of Congress and of the federal judiciary . In the years immediately following the attacks, there were numerous wide - ranging discussions in Congress, among academics, and within the public policy community about continuity of government concerns, including the existing constitutional and statutory provisions governing presidential succession . These discussions are ongoing . One effort, that of the Continuity of Government Commission, a nonpartisan think tank, produced three reports (in 2003, 2009, and 2011), the second of which focused on the implicit ambiguities and limitations in the current succession act, and contained recommendations for amending the laws for succession to the presidency . </P> <P> The table below details the current presidential order of succession as established by the 1947 presidential succession statute as amended (3 U.S.C. § 19). The order is determined by the offices . However, the individual in an office must still satisfy the constitutional requirements for the office in order to serve as Acting President . In the table, the absence of a number in the first column indicates that the incumbent is ineligible, or is of uncertain eligibility . In such cases, a note explains the detail . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> No . </Th> <Th> Office </Th> <Th> Incumbent </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Party </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Vice President </Td> <Td> Mike Pence </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Speaker of the House of Representatives </Td> <Td> Paul Ryan </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> President pro tempore of the Senate </Td> <Td> Orrin Hatch </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Secretary of State </Td> <Td> Mike Pompeo </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> Secretary of the Treasury </Td> <Td> Steven Mnuchin </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> Secretary of Defense </Td> <Td> Jim Mattis </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Independent </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> Attorney General </Td> <Td> Jeff Sessions </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> Secretary of the Interior </Td> <Td> Ryan Zinke </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> Secretary of Agriculture </Td> <Td> Sonny Perdue </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> Secretary of Commerce </Td> <Td> Wilbur Ross </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> Secretary of Labor </Td> <Td> Alexander Acosta </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> Secretary of Health and Human Services </Td> <Td> Alex Azar </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> Secretary of Housing and Urban Development </Td> <Td> Ben Carson </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td>--</Td> <Td> Secretary of Transportation </Td> <Td> Elaine Chao </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 14 </Td> <Td> Secretary of Energy </Td> <Td> Rick Perry </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> Secretary of Education </Td> <Td> Betsy DeVos </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> Secretary of Veterans Affairs </Td> <Td> Robert Wilkie </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> Secretary of Homeland Security </Td> <Td> Kirstjen Nielsen </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Independent </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> No . </Th> <Th> Office </Th> <Th> Incumbent </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Party </Th> </Tr>

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