美國憲法第二十五條修正案 Presidential Disability and Succession 總統不能視事與繼任

美國憲法第二十五條修正案　Presidential Disability and Succession　總統不能視事與繼任
本修正案於1965年7月6日提案 , 於1967年2月10日通過。

第一款
In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.　　如遇總統免職、死亡或辭職時，副總統成為總統。

 

第二十五修正案　第二款

Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.　　當副總統職位出缺時，總統應提名一名副總統，在國會全院均以過半數票批准後就職。
註釋：本條款規定填補副總統職缺之原則。福特(Gerald R. Ford)是首位於1973年根據修正條款選出來的副總統。在副總統斯皮羅．阿格紐(Spiro T. Agnew)辭職後，尼克松(Richard M. Nixon)總統便提名福特(Gerald R. Ford)繼任。之後尼克松(Richard M. Nixon)總統在1974年辭職，福特(Gerald R. Ford)順理成章繼任為總統。洛克菲勒(Nelson A. Rockefeller)於是按照新程序繼任為副總統。這也是美國首次總統與副總統都非經由選舉產生。在此修正案產生效力之前，副總統職缺在下屆總統選舉前將維持空缺。

 

第二十五修正案　第三款

Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.　　當總統向參議院臨時議長和眾議院議長提交書面聲明，聲稱他不能夠履行其職務的權力和責任時，在他再向他們提交一份內容相反的書面聲明前，此種權力和責任應由副總統以代總統身份履行。

註釋：本修正案規定當總統不能視事時副總統當繼任為總統。副總統喬治．布什(George W. Bush)是美國首位代理總統。他曾於雷根(Ronald Reagan) 總統在1985年7月13日進行癌症手術時代理執行職務8個小時。

 

第二十五修正案　第四款

Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.　　當副總統和行政部門或國會依法規定的其他機構的過半數主要官員向參議院臨時議長和眾議院議長轉交其書面聲明，宣佈總統無法履行其職務的權力和職責，副總統應立即以代理總統的身份行使該職位的權力和職責。

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.　　此後，當總統向參議院臨時議長和眾議院議長提交書面聲明，聲稱喪失能力的情況並不存在時，他應恢復總統職務的權力和責任，除非副總統和行政各部或國會一類的其它機構的多數長官依法在四天內向參議院臨時議長和眾議院議長提交書面聲明，聲稱總統不能夠履行其職務的權力和責任。在此種情況下，國會應對此問題做出決定；如國會正在休會期間，應為此目的在四十八小時內召集會議。如國會在收到後一書面聲明後的二十一天以內，或如適逢休會期間，在國會按照要求召集會議以後的二十一天以內，以兩院的三分之二多數票決定總統不能夠履行其職務的權力和責任時，副總統應繼續代理總統職務；否則總統應恢復其職務的權力和責任。