The vice president’s most important role is to replace the president if the president dies or becomes unable to manage the country’s affairs. Under the Constitution of the United States, the vice president automatically assumes the presidency if the president dies.
The 25th Amendment details procedures for replacing a president who is incapacitated due to illness, injury, or other reasons. In such cases, the president may hand over power to the vice president by sending a written message to the Congress of the United States stating that he or she is unable to carry out the presidential duties. Should the president become incapable of running the country and be unwilling or unable to acknowledge this, the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet can notify Congress that the president is unfit. The vice president then becomes acting president until the president certifies in writing that he or she can resume the presidential responsibilities. The vice president, with the support of a majority of the Cabinet, can block the president’s resumption of power, but their decision must be approved by votes of two-thirds of both houses of Congress within 21 days. If Congress fails to support the vice president and the Cabinet, the president regains control.
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