united-states us-constitution elections us-president
What happens if no one gets 270 electoral votes in the U.S. presidential election and the Congress fails to elect a president and vice president?
<p><a href="https://www.archives.gov/electoral-college/faq" rel="nofollow noreferrer">This link</a> explains how the House of Representatives elects the president and vice president if nobody gets at least 270 electoral votes in the election. But what happens if the Congress fails to elect a president <strong>AND</strong> a vice president as well? In fact, I have a few more specific questions, explained in the following.</p>
<p>Say, if there are three presidential candidates, and none gets at least 26 votes from the House, then the elected VP will serve as the acting president as the link says; but this assumes existence of such an elected vice president, doesn't it? What if some senators don't like both candidates and none of the two gets at least 51 votes from the Senate, then what will happen if the deadlock is still not resolved after January 20?</p>
<p>Also, is there a time limit on resolving the deadlock for the president? If not Theoretically, can the vice president serve as the acting president until the next election?</p>

<p><a href="https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/United_States_of_America_1992?lang=#162" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The 12th Amendment</a> specifies a process in case of failure.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President
whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the
fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act
as President</p>
</blockquote>
<p>which means that there shall be a president until the House can reach an agreement. It is therefore possible that the acting president will be president for 4 years if no resolution is possible. If there is no vice-presidential choice either, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_Succession_Act#Presidential_Succession_Act_of_1947" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Presidential Succession act</a> provides that the Speaker of the House becomes president until the situation is straightened out, which again could be 4 years in the future.</p>
