designated survivors
Continuity government officials
Designated survivors are government officials kept at a secure, undisclosed location during events where the president and most of the line of succession gather in one place—such as the State of the Union address or a presidential inauguration.
The practice ensures continuity of government if a catastrophe kills the assembled leadership.
The Secretary of Agriculture served as designated survivor for the address.
Following in order
- line of successionSequence of potential heirs
- cabinetEnclosed storage furniture
- presidentialOf the highest office
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
vice president · speaker of the house · senate · executive branch · inauguration · oath of office · swearing in · chain of command
Secure secret shelter
- bunkerReinforced subterranean stronghold
- secret serviceGovernment espionage organization
- security detailProtective personnel assignment
- bodyguardPaid personal security agent
escort · armored vehicle · evacuation · isolation · separated · hidden · guarded · protective custody
Preparing for possible problems
- emergency protocolsPredetermined crisis response procedures
- redundancyNeedless duplication
- failsafeAutomatic protective default
- disaster preparednessPlanning for potential crises
national security · decapitation strike · mass casualty · nuclear threat · doomsday scenario
succession
Following in order
- line of successionSequence of potential heirs
- cabinetEnclosed storage furniture
- presidentialOf the highest office
constitution · vice president · speaker of the house · senate · executive branch · inauguration · oath of office · swearing in · chain of command · acting president
safehouse
Secure secret shelter
- bunkerReinforced subterranean stronghold
- secret serviceGovernment espionage organization
- security detailProtective personnel assignment
bodyguard · escort · armored vehicle · evacuation · isolation · separated · hidden · guarded · protective custody · secure facility
contingency planning
Preparing for possible problems
- emergency protocolsPredetermined crisis response procedures
- redundancyNeedless duplication
- failsafeAutomatic protective default
disaster preparedness · national security · decapitation strike · mass casualty · nuclear threat · doomsday scenario
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