Teaching students about presidential succession is a crucial part of civics education. It is important for young people to know what happens in the event that the President of the United States can no longer fulfill their duties as the leader of the country. Understanding presidential succession also helps students become engaged and informed citizens who are fully aware of the workings of their government.
There are several different scenarios in which the President’s role may become vacant, including death, resignation, impeachment or removal from office, or incapacity due to illness or disability. When something like this occurs, the rules of presidential succession determine who will become the next President of the United States.
It is important for students to know that, according to the US Constitution, the Vice President is first in line for the presidency if the President is unable to perform their duties. If the Vice President is also unable to serve for any reason, there is a list of other government officials who are next in line of succession, including the Speaker of the House, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and various members of the Cabinet.
As a teacher, there are several ways to help students understand and engage with this important topic. One approach would be to discuss recent examples of presidential succession in the United States, such as the resignation of President Richard Nixon and the subsequent elevation of Vice President Gerald Ford to the presidency in the 1970s or the transition from President Barack Obama to President Donald Trump in 2017.
Another approach is to have students research and discuss the history of presidential succession in the United States. This could include learning about the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, which outlines the procedures for handling presidential disability, or the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, which established the current order of succession.
