ADOPTION OF THE 25TH AMENDMENT
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On February 10, 1967, the 25th amendment* to the Constitution of the United States became the law of the land when it was approved by the state of Nevada. The proposed 25th Amendment concerning presidential succession had been passed by Congress on July 6, 1965 before going to the states for ratification.
Tennessee ratified on January 12, 1967, and all but three states eventually followed. North Dakota, Georgia and South Carolina have never ratified the 25th Amendment.
The amendment has been applied six times. The first was when President Richard M. Nixon appointed Gerald R. Ford to replace resigned Vice-President Spiro T. Agnew and the last was when President George W. Bush temporarily transferred power to Vice-President Richard Cheney while he underwent a colonoscopy.
On November 22, 1963, there was concern about the fact that there was no constitutional provision for the replacement of the Vice-President. After he took the oath in Dallas, President Lyndon B. Johnson served out the remainder of JFK's term without benefit of a Vice-President.
*25th amendment (1967)
1. In case of the removal of the President from office or his death or resignation, the Vice-President shall become President.
2. Where there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice-President, the President shall nominate a Vice-President who shall take office upon confirmation...
3. Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House...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..
25th Amendment
