So, say that somehow (though even they way things are going the counts will be done by then) there was not a winner declared by Jan 21st. I know the usual deal on succession, but here’s a slightly paranoid question: if the term of a president ends with no declared new president, are the cabinet members still active cabinet members? My assumption has always been that they are cabinet members until a new one is confirmed and sworn in, but someone can feel free to correct me on that. So, are they still eligible for presidential succession (besides Madeline Albright, of course)?
A cabinet member remains as such until a successor is chosen. Usually, the Cabinet resigns as the president’s term ends. However, they can “insist” on remaining in office until a successor is chosen. So, if no replacement for them has been chosen by Jan 20, then they are still in office.
Zev Steinhardt