What happens if the President of the Unites States becomes ill, incompenent, is impeached, or dies?.

Provisions for this scenario are spelled out in the 20th and 25th Amendments to the Constitution, and the Presidential Succession Law of 1947.

The Presidential Succession is established in this order:

1. President of the United States
2. Vice-President of the United States
3. Speaker of the House
4. President pro Tempore of the Senate
5. Secretary of State
6. Secretary of the Treasury
7. Secretary of Defense
8. Attorney General
9. Secretary of the Interior
10. Secretary of Agriculture
11. Secretary of Commerce
12. Secretary of Health & Human Services
13. Secretary of Housing & Urban Development
14. Secretary of Transportation
15. Secretary of Energy
16. Secretary of Education
17. Secretary of Veterans' Affairs
18. Secretary of Homeland Security

The lengthy succession ensures the continuity of government. Of particular note is that rarely are all Cabinet members in the same place. This would occur when the President gives the annual State of the Union address. As a precaution one member of the Cabinet stays out of Washington D.C.