# Is there anyway VPOTUS Could have became POTUS during Bush's operation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 23, 2007, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anyway-vpotus-could-have-became-potus-during-bushs-operation/412895 "2007-07-23T22:05:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anyway-vpotus-could-have-became-potus-during-bushs-operation/412895/1 "2007-07-23T22:05:52Z")
Less of killing him could he have done something that would not allow Bush to become president again? During those 2 hours could he somehow sign some piece of paper saying Bush could not take over again? Without violating the consitution? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anyway-vpotus-could-have-became-potus-during-bushs-operation/412895/2 "2007-07-23T22:08:51Z")
No, no, and no. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anyway-vpotus-could-have-became-potus-during-bushs-operation/412895/3 "2007-07-23T22:26:09Z")
[QUOTE=ChrisBooth12] Less of killing him could he have done something that would not allow Bush to become president again? During those 2 hours could he somehow sign some piece of paper saying Bush could not take over again? Without violating the consitution? [/QUOTE] [The 25th Amendment](http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.amendmentxxv.html). Reading is fundamental. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anyway-vpotus-could-have-became-potus-during-bushs-operation/412895/4 "2007-07-23T23:05:25Z")
Cheney returned power once Bush told him he was ready to resume his presidential authority. Had Cheney refused Congress would need to convene to determine if Bush was mentaly and physically fit to govern the country. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anyway-vpotus-could-have-became-potus-during-bushs-operation/412895/5 "2007-07-24T00:14:15Z")
[QUOTE=alphaboi867] Cheney returned power once Bush told him he was ready to resume his presidential authority. Had Cheney refused Congress would need to convene to determine if Bush was mentaly and physically fit to govern the country. [/QUOTE] Under Section 3 of the 25th Amendment, it is the President, and the President alone, who decides when the Vice President becomes Acting President and when he stops. This is done by the President informing the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, in writing. Neither Congress nor the Vice President has any say over the matter. Under Section 4 of the 25th Amendment, the Vice President can assume the powers of the Presidency as Acting President if a majority of the cabinet agrees that the President is unable to discharge his duties. In this case, the President can return to the job by informing the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House that he is able to return. Finally, if the cabinet votes _again_, within four days of the President’s notice that he is still, in fact, unable to discharge his duties, then the Vice President assumes power until Congress decides the issue. If a two thirds super-majority in both houses agrees that the President is nuts or otherwise incapacitated, within 21 days, then the Vice President remains Acting President. Otherwise, the President returns to duty.