<P> The succession follows the order of vice president , Speaker of the House of Representatives , President pro tempore of the Senate , and then the heads of federal executive departments who form the Cabinet of the United States . The Cabinet currently has fifteen members , beginning with the Secretary of State , and followed by the rest in the order of their positions ' creation . Those heads of department who are ineligible to act as president are also ineligible to succeed the president by succession , for example most commonly if they are not a natural - born U.S. citizen . </P>
who comes after the president if he dies
vice president