Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Honors Thesis (Open Access)

Department

Colby College. Government Dept.

Advisor(s)

Tizoc Chavez

Second Advisor

Joseph Reisert

Abstract

This research project examines the persistent lack of use of the 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution in its original form, despite many calls for the reform of the language or expansion of its application as situations unfold. Adopted in 1967, the amendment was created to address the challenges of presidential succession and incapacity. However, historical events over the last few decades, such as the assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan, Reagan’s colon cancer, and the general increase in the age at which presidents assume office, have contributed to scrutiny over the amendments’ provisions. This study will explore why specifically Section 4 of the amendment has not been utilized throughout its tenure, analyzing factors such as partisanship and polarization, constitutional rigidity, and the amendment’s ambiguous language. It will investigate the complex interplay between the amendment’s legal mechanisms and public perceptions of presidential health and capability. Through a comprehensive review of historical sources—including legislative records, newspapers, and scholarly work—this project aims to understand the barriers that have deterred the use of the 25th Amendment the way it was originally intended, while analyzing situations when the amendment likely should have been utilized, ultimately contributing to broader discussions on constitutional adaptation and the balance of power within the executive branch of government.

Keywords

President, disability, incapacity, Constitution, health, polarization

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