If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?

On the 2008 test

The 2008 test asks this as Question 30: “If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?”

Answers listed for the 2008 question (1), next to the 1 above. Compare them before you study from an older list.

• the Vice President

Background

If the President can no longer serve, the Vice President becomes President. This is the first step in the line of succession that keeps the executive branch functioning.

From this site's page for 2008 Question 30.

The 65/20 special consideration

Question 40 is not one of the 20 asterisked questions, so an applicant who qualifies for the 65/20 special consideration would not be asked it. Everyone else studies all 128.

Answers that get mixed up with this one

These are the wrong options the 2025 practice test puts beside this question. Each one is the correct answer to a different 2025 question.

• Self-governmentanswers Question 4: The U.S. Constitution starts with the words “We the People.” What does “We the People” mean?
• Declaration of Independenceanswers Question 9: What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?

More System of Government questions

• Question 37: The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?(Because of) the 22nd Amendment · To keep the president from becoming too powerful
• Question 38: What is the name of the President of the United States now?Changes with the officeholder
• Question 39: What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?Changes with the officeholder
• Question 41: Name one power of the president.Signs bills into law · Vetoes bills · Enforces laws · Commander in Chief (of the military) · Chief diplomat · Appoints federal judges
• Question 42: Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?The President (of the United States)