I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1943 
To amend chapter 1 of title 3, United States Code, relating to Presidential 
succession. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 27, 2005 
Mr. SHERMAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend chapter 1 of title 3, United States Code, relating 
to Presidential succession. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Presidential Succession 
Act of 2005’’. 
SEC. 2. PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 19(d) of title 3, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, Secretary 
of Homeland Security, Ambassador to the United
Nations, Ambassador to Great Britain, Ambassador 
to Russia, Ambassador to China, Ambassador to 
France’’ after ‘‘Secretary of Veterans Affairs’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘acting as’’ and inserting 
‘‘serving as acting’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘but not’’ and all that fol-
lows through the period and inserting ‘‘or until 
the disability of the President or Vice President 
is removed.’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘be held to constitute’’ and 
inserting ‘‘not require’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘act as President’’ and in-
serting ‘‘serve as acting President’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘Such individual shall not receive compensation 
from holding that office during the period that 
the individual serves as acting President or Vice 
President under this section, and shall be com-
pensated for that period as provided under sub-
section (c).’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) This subsection shall apply only to such officers 
that are—
‘‘(A) eligible to the office of President under the 
Constitution; 
‘‘(B) appointed to an office listed under para-
graph (1), by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate, prior to the time the powers and duties of 
the President devolve to such officer under para-
graph (1); and 
‘‘(C) not under impeachment by the House of 
Representatives at the time the powers and duties of 
the office of President devolve upon them.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 19 of such 
title is amended as follows: 
(1) In subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘act as 
President’’ and inserting ‘‘serve as acting Presi-
dent’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘acting 
as President’’ and inserting ‘‘serving as acting 
President’’. 
(2) In subsection (b), by striking ‘‘act as Presi-
dent’’ and inserting ‘‘serve as acting President’’. 
(3) In subsection (c)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1)—
(i) by striking ‘‘acting as President’’ 
and inserting ‘‘serving as acting Presi-
dent’’, and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘continue to act’’ and 
inserting ‘‘continue to serve’’; and 
(B) in paragraphs (1) and (2), by striking 
‘‘shall act’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘shall serve’’. 
(4) In subsection (e)— 
(A) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘(a), 
(b), and (d)’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) and (b)’’; and 
(B) by striking the second sentence. 
(5) In subsection (f), by striking ‘‘acts as Presi-
dent’’ and inserting ‘‘serves as acting President’’. 
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING VOTES BY ELEC-
TORS AFTER DEATH OR INCAPACITY OF 
NOMINEES. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) during a Presidential election year, the 
nominees of each political party for the office of 
President and Vice President should jointly an-
nounce and designate on or before the final day of 
the convention (or related event) at which they are 
nominated the individuals for whom the electors of 
President and Vice President who are pledged to