If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

The Speaker of the House is the next in the line of succession to the presidency after the President and Vice President. This process is established by the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, which outlines the order of succession should the highest offices become vacant. The rationale behind this choice is grounded in the principle of continuity of government, ensuring that a leader elected by the people, albeit indirectly, is in place to assume the presidency when the primary leaders are unable to fulfill their roles.

The Speaker is also an elected official, serving as a representative of the interests of constituents in their district, which provides a democratic element to this line of succession. This mechanism is vital in maintaining a stable leadership in times of crisis or unexpected transitions, which emphasizes the importance of having a leader who holds a position of authority and responsibility within the legislative branch.

The other options—Senate Majority Leader, President pro tempore of the Senate, and Secretary of State—though important roles within the government structure, do not have the same established statutory authority to succeed the presidency directly.