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

When both the President and the Vice President are unable to perform their duties, the next in line to assume the presidency is the Speaker of the House of Representatives. This line of succession is established by the Presidential Succession Act, which outlines the order of authority following the Vice President.

The Speaker of the House is the highest-ranking member of the House and is elected by the members of that body, making them a significant political figure. They are next in line after the Vice President because they represent the legislative branch of the government, providing a balance of power between the executive and legislative branches.

This arrangement ensures continuity of government by allowing a leader who has been elected by the people (through their Representatives) to step in during such emergencies, reinforcing the democratic principle that elected officials should hold the highest offices in the government. Other roles mentioned, such as Secretaries or minority leaders, do not hold the same constitutional standing in the presidential line of succession.