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Republic Act
Approved June 21, 1947

Republic Act No. 181

An act prescribing the order of presidential succession

An Act Prescribing the Order of Presidential Succession

In plain language

This act establishes the line of succession for the presidential office in cases where the President and Vice‑President are unavailable, specifying the roles of the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, and providing for a joint session election of a successor.

  • Specifies the line of succession for the presidency
  • Repeals Commonwealth Act 68 and Executive Order 390
  • Effectivity upon approval
Presidential Succession
Constitutional Law

REPUBLIC ACT No. 181

An Act Prescribing the Order of Presidential Succession

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

Section 1

When neither the President-elect nor the Vice-President-elect shall have qualified, or in the event of the removal, death, or resignation of both the President and the Vice-President, or of the inability of both of them to discharge, the powers and duties of the office of President, the President of the Senate, or if there be none, or in the event of his removal, death, resignation, or of his inability to act as President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or if there be none, or in the event of his removal, death, resignation, or of his inability to act as President, the Senator or Representative elected by the Members of the Congress in joint session shall act as President of the Philippines until the President or President-elect or the Vice-President or Vice-President-elect shall have qualified, or until their disability shall be removed, or a President shall have been elected and shall have qualified.

Section 2

Commonwealth Act Numbered Sixty-eight and Executive Order Numbered Three hundred and ninety are repealed.

Section 3

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 21, 1947.

For information and research only, and not legal advice. This text may not reflect later amendments. For certified copies, refer to the Official Gazette or the issuing agency.