Question 31 of 100 · 2008 test
If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
This question is from the 2008 test, which applies if you filed Form N-400 before Oct 20, 2025; later filers take the 2025 test of 128 questions - check your version on the official USCIS test-updates page.
Answer
- the Speaker of the House
Explanation
If both the President and Vice President cannot serve, the Speaker of the House becomes President.
Why it matters
The Speaker is third in the presidential line of succession set by law.
The 65/20 special consideration
Question 31 is not in the 65/20 set. An applicant who is 65 or older and has been a lawful permanent resident for 20 years or more studies only the 20 marked questions, so this one would not be asked. Everyone else studies all 100.
Answers that get mixed up with this one
These are the wrong options the practice test puts beside this question. Each one is the correct answer to a different question, which is what makes it tempting.
- Mike Johnsonanswers Question 47: What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
- twenty-seven (27)answers Question 7: How many amendments does the Constitution have?
- serve on a juryanswers Question 49: What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
More System of Government questions
Questions the officer draws from the same part of the test. Studying them together is what keeps their answers apart.