[19990712]RS20260_总统残疾：概述.pdf

Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS20260July 12, 1999Presidential Disability: An Overview(name redacted)Analyst in American National GovernmentGovernment and Finance DivisionSummaryIn the original document, Article II, section 1, clause 6 of the Constitution providedthat, in the event of the Presidents “Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties” of hisoffice, “the Same shall devolve on the Vice President.” This language was supersededby the 25 Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1967. Although there were severalthinstances of severe presidential disability between 1789 and 1967, no Vice Presidentsought to assume the chief executives powers and duties during this period. Sections3 and 4 of the 25 Amendment currently govern cases of presidential disability. Underthsection 3, if the President declares (in a written declaration to the Speaker of the Houseof Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate) that he is disabled forany reason, the Vice President assumes his powers and duties as Acting President.Section 4 provides for cases in which the President may not be able to trans