                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DISCHARGE OF DUTIES WHEN OFFICE OF GOVERNOR IS VACANT OR GOVERNOR IS DISABLED
(§ 24.2-211)

When the Governor-elect is disqualified, resigns, or dies following his election
but prior to taking office, the Lieutenant Governor-elect shall succeed to the
office of Governor for the full term. When the Governor-elect fails to assume
office for any other reason, the Lieutenant Governor-elect shall serve as acting
Governor.
		Whenever the Governor transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and
the Speaker of the House of Delegates his written declaration that he is unable
to discharge the powers and duties of his office and until he transmits to them
a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be
discharged by the Lieutenant Governor as acting Governor.
		Whenever the Attorney General, the President pro tempore of the Senate, and
the Speaker of the House of Delegates, or a majority of the total membership of
the General Assembly, transmit to the Clerk of the Senate and the Clerk of the
House of Delegates their written declaration that the Governor is unable to
discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Lieutenant Governor shall
immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as acting Governor.
		Thereafter, when the Governor transmits to the Clerk of the Senate and the
Clerk of the House of Delegates his written declaration that no inability
exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Attorney
General, the President pro tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House
of Delegates, or a majority of the total membership of the General Assembly,
transmit within four days to the Clerk of the Senate and the Clerk of the House
of Delegates their written declaration that the Governor is unable to discharge
the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon the General Assembly shall decide
the issue, convening within forty-eight hours for that purpose, if not already
in session. If within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter declaration
or, if the General Assembly is not in session, within twenty-one days after the
General Assembly is required to convene, the General Assembly determines by
three-fourths vote of the elected membership of each house of the General
Assembly that the Governor is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his
office, the Lieutenant Governor shall become Governor; otherwise, the Governor
shall resume the powers and duties of his office.
		In the case of the removal of the Governor from office or in the case of his
disqualification, death or resignation, the Lieutenant Governor shall become
Governor.
		If a vacancy exists in the office of Lieutenant Governor when the Lieutenant
Governor is to succeed to the office of Governor or to serve as acting Governor,
the Attorney General, if he is eligible to serve as Governor, shall succeed to
the office of Governor for the unexpired term or serve as acting Governor. If
the Attorney General is ineligible to serve as Governor, the Speaker of the
House of Delegates, if he is eligible to serve as Governor, shall succeed to the
office of Governor. If a vacancy exists in the office of the Speaker of the
House of Delegates or if the Speaker of the House of Delegates is ineligible to
serve as Governor, the House of Delegates shall convene and fill the vacancy.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 24-150; 1960, c. 488; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-82; 1971, Ex.
Sess., c. 165; 1993, c. 641.