Poitical Question

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Let's say a Presidential election is held. The incumbent is defeated. The electoral college meets and votes the President-elect in. The election is now over and official. Then sometime after that and the swearing in the President-elect dies of a heart attack. I presume the Vice President-elect new becomes President-elect. Is that so? Does anyone know where this is codified? I've always wanted to know. Thanks.

 

[Denny Crane]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twentieth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

Section 3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twentieth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

Section 3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.

Thanks

 

[Eastoff]

Does the new President elect (formerly VP) get to choose a new VP? Or is it chosen by the Senate?

 

[Denny Crane]

I would think the Senate would have to approve the new VP, as was done in the case of Nixon replacing Agnew with Ford.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

But what happens if the winner of the election dies before the electoral college meets?

 

[Denny Crane]

VP Elect.

 

[Denny Crane]

I take back my answer. If the electoral college hasn't voted, I think they can choose to vote for whoever they want, according to any state laws that might bind them to vote or not vote for the candiate that won the election at the state level.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I take back my answer. If the electoral college hasn't voted, I think they can choose to vote for whoever they want, according to any state laws that might bind them to vote or not vote for the candiate that won the election at the state level.

I think that is correct. But then there has to be a candidate who gets enough votes. Maybe it goes to Congress to decide...

 

[Denny Crane]

If the electoral college cannot elect a president, the vote does go to the Senate and House. The Senate chooses the VP and the House chooses the president. And it's the CURRENT or lame duck congress that does so.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

If the electoral college cannot elect a president, the vote does go to the Senate and House. The Senate chooses the VP and the House chooses the president. And it's the CURRENT or lame duck congress that does so.

Well if that happened today the House would choose Paul and the Senate... who cares as if it's not a republican, they'd be asked to resign the day after the inaugeration.