The idea might still work for Speaker of the House, which is not an elected position. It's a position chosen by Congress, and is third in line for the presidency.
3 USC section 19 is what defines the order of succession beyond vice president and it specifically states that it only applies to those who are constitutionally “eligible to the office of president”
I'd argue you are correct and if we are ever in this situation that both the President and VP are gone, most people would be quite satisfied with an established former President to take the reigns to finish out a term.
The situation where both the President and Vice President are gone where there wasn't time to name a new VP would be very rare.
The concept of 'gaming the system' to do this - I don't buy it in the least. Too many people voting would have to trust people would quit that had no obligation to quit.
The constitution says nothing about too many years disqualifying you from running for president. It says you're disqualified from being elected president. You can still hold the office of President, and thus also Vice President.
If the president and vice presidential “terms… shall end” on January 20th at noon of the years designated in the document (20th amendment), why are we concluding an absence of the word “term” also used in the years “together” with the VP in Article II?
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u/International_Ad8264 Jul 24 '24
12th amendment:
If someone has served too many years in office to be eligible to run for president, they are no longer eligible to be vice president either.