Congress'sseemingly democraticright to establish the line of succession after the vice president is unconstitutional and potentially catastrophic.

Panelists will discuss a new report by the AEI-Brookings Continuity of Government Commission that examines vulnerabilities in the U.S. presidential succession.

When an imperious bully like Fidel Castro starts to fear, his instinct is to try to sow fear among his enemies. Today, with his student and benefactor, Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez, dying of cancer, what the Cuban dictator fears most is that his bankrupt regime in Havana is about to lose billions in critical aid and oil.

Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez has tried for 10 months to conceal the fact that he is losing his bout with cancer, determined to appear in command of his revolutionary regime and the nation's future. So why isn't anyone outside Venezuela paying attention?

Kim Jong-il’s death came like the line from Fletch: He’d been dying for years, but when it came it was very sudden. Now the world waits to see what will happen to the most repressive and secretive regime on earth.

The recent blockbuster "2012" serves as a reminder of the weaknesses of our presidential succession system and the need for its reform.

What if Al Qaeda terrorists had hit the White House on September 11, 2001? Is our system of presidential succession adequate for the post-9/11 world? What if the president and vice president were killed in an attack? Could the presidency switch parties? What about an attack that incapacitates top...

As Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez battles cancer, it's anyone's guess who his successor will be.