Civics question 40 of 128
If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
Official answer
- The Vice President (of the United States)
Source: official USCIS question list for the 2025 version of the civics test. This site is independent and not affiliated with USCIS.
Background
The vice president becomes president. The Constitution's original wording was vague about whether the vice president actually became president or merely acted in the role, and John Tyler settled the practice in 1841 by taking the office and the title outright after William Henry Harrison died a month into his term. The Twenty-fifth Amendment, ratified in 1967, wrote Tyler's precedent into law and added procedures for filling a vacancy in the vice presidency and for handling a president temporarily unable to discharge the duties. Nine vice presidents have moved up this way, eight after a death and one after a resignation. If both offices are empty, the Presidential Succession Act puts the Speaker of the House next, then the president pro tempore of the Senate, then the cabinet.
This background section is written by US Citizenship Test Practice to explain the civics fact. It is not part of the USCIS question list, and the official answer above is the one to give at the interview.
Where this question sits
It is part of System of Government, inside the American Government section of the test.