If both the U.S. President and the U.S. Vice President are unable to serve, who acts as president?

The Speaker of the House serves as the next in line to the presidency after the Vice President. This line of succession is established in the Presidential Succession Act of 1947. The act dictates that if both the President and the Vice President are unable to fulfill their duties due to death, resignation, removal, or incapacitation, the Speaker of the House is next in the hierarchy to assume the role of acting president.

This structure is crucial for maintaining continuity in leadership and ensuring that there is always a designated individual ready to take on presidential responsibilities should an unexpected vacancy occur. The Speaker of the House is chosen by the members of the House of Representatives, which means they are also an elected official representing the voice of the people.

Other choices involve positions that, while important within the government, do not have a constitutional or statutory role in presidential succession beyond the Speaker. For instance, the Senate Majority Leader and the Chief Justice do not ascend to the presidency, and the Secretary of State, although a high-ranking official, follows the Vice President in succession, not ahead of them. Thus, the correct response emphasizes the established order of government leadership during times of vacancy at the very top level.