The commission examined the 25th Amendment in order to identify potential difficulties in presidential succession that might arise in extremely complicated scenarios. Following its examination, the commission strongly urged the provision of a guide for future applications of the 25th Amendment and contingency planning intended to assure prompt application in a matter faithful both to the spirit of the Constitution and the intent of the framers of this Amendment.

Co-Chairs:

• Herbert Brownell, U.S. Attorney General, 1953–1957
• Birch E. Bayh, Jr., U.S. Senator (D-Ind.), 1963–1981; Partner, Venable

Vice-Chair:

• Mortimer M. Caplin, Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 1961–1964, Founder and Member, Caplin & Drysdale; Professor Emeritus of the University of Virginia School of Law

Commissioners:

• Phillip W. Buchen, Counsel to the President, 1974–1977
• Warren E. Burger, Chief Justice of the United States, 1969–1986
• M. Caldwell Butler, Member, U.S. House of Representatives (R-Va.), 1972–1983
• Carolyne K. Davis, Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1981–1985
• Nancy M. Neuman, President, League of Women Voters of the United States, 1986-1990
• Karen O'Neil
• Chalmers M. Roberts, Chief Diplomatic Correspondent, Washington Post, 1953–1971
• Dr. M. Roy Schwartz, Senior Vice President of the American Medical Association; Dean of the University of Colorado School of Medicine; Vice Chancellor of the Health Sciences Center
• W. Reece Smith, Jr., President, American Bar Association; Of Counsel, Carlton Fields
• William B. Spong, Jr., U.S. Senator (D-Va.), 1966–1973

Commission Director: Kenneth W. Thompson, Director of the Miller Center, 1978–1998