[Executive Orders]

Executive Order 13251 of December 28, 2001

Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of State

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq., it is hereby ordered that:

Section 1. Subject to the provisions of section 3 of this order, the officers named in section 2, in the order listed, shall act as, and perform the duties of, the office of Secretary of State (Secretary) during any period in which the Secretary has died, resigned, or otherwise become unable to perform the functions and duties of the office of Secretary.

Sec. 2. Order of Succession.

Sec. 3. Exceptions.

Sec. 4. Executive Order 12343 of January 27, 1982, is hereby revoked.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

December 28, 2001.