Vice President

Vice President Role

The vice president is part of the executive branch. The only constitutionally defined role of the Vice President of the United States is to serve as president of the Senate. The vice president cannot vote unless there is a tie.

The vice president also formally presides over the counting and receiving of the presidential electoral college ballots.

Fig. 1 Seal of the Vice President Wikimedia Commons

Vice President Powers

The Vice President of the United States doesn’t have any formal powers apart from the responsibility of presiding over the Senate. Few vice presidents exercise that duty unless they are needed to break a tie for the benefit of their party. Traditionally, the main job of vice presidents seemed to be waiting. They waited in case there was a tragedy, and they had to replace the president. The vice president is a heartbeat away from being the most powerful person in the government, but often they are the least consequential.

The main power that the vice president wields is the power to succeed the president in case they are debilitated or die. Article II states that in case of presidential removal, death, resignation, or disability, that the responsibilities of the vice president shall, “devolve on the vice president.” On that occasion, the vice president is sworn in as president. This has happened eight times during our nation’s history:

• John Tyler

• Millard Fillmore

• Andrew Johnson

• Chester Arthur

• Theodore Roosevelt

• Calvin Coolidge

• Harry Truman

• Lyndon Johnson

Gerald Ford assumed the presidency after the resignation of Richard Nixon. John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Van Buran, Richard Nixon, George H.W. Bush, and Joseph Biden were all vice presidents who later became president.

Succession

The 25th Amendment, which was ratified in 1967, and the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 outline the order of succession if the president is unable to perform their duties. The order of succession is as follows:

1. Vice President

2. Speaker of the House

3. President Pro Tempore of the Senate

4. Secretary of State

5. Secretary of the Treasury

6. Secretary of Defense

7. Attorney General

8. Secretary of the Interior

9. Secretary of Agriculture

10. Secretary of Commerce

11. Secretary of Labor

12. Secretary of Health and Human Services

13. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

14. Secretary of Transportation

15. Secretary of Energy

16. Secretary of Education

17. Secretary of Veterans Affairs

18. Secretary of Homeland Security

President and Vice President

Other than the constitutionally defined powers, the influence of the vice president is determined by the president. Some presidents want their vice presidents to take on more of a leadership role. Others maintain a cool relationship with vice presidents, and they are mostly pushed to the side.

Most modern presidents choose their vice president to balance the ticket. In other words, the vice president offers something different from the president. For example, President Barack Obama selected Joe Biden to be his running mate. Obama lacked extensive foreign policy experience. Biden was an experienced Senator with years of foreign policy experience under his belt.

Other presidential candidates may select vice presidents who live in a different geographic area or appeal to a different kind of voter within the party. Modern presidents have chosen vice presidents with extensive political experience and who are potential presidential candidates themselves.

Vice President Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the vice president are to preside over the Senate, assist the president, stand in for the president at events that the president cannot attend, and formally receive and preside over the counting of the presidential electoral votes.

Vice presidents have historically not been satisfied with the position. In 1932, Franklin Roosevelt's vice president, John Nance Garner, famously said that the office of vice president,

Since the 1970s, vice presidents have taken on more responsibilities as presidents have involved them more in policy conversations and diplomatic action.

Vice President Election

The 12th Amendment to the Constitution modified the way that the president and vice president were chosen. Before the ratification of the 12th Amendment, the candidate who received the most electors was elected president and the runner-up was vice-president. This caused problems when the two men were from different political parties. It created contention and gridlock. The 12th Amendment allows for political parties to nominate their president and vice president as a team to be chosen on the same ticket.

The 12th Amendment also specifies what will happen if there is a tie in the electoral college. Should that occasion arise, The House of Representatives will decide the president. This amendment extends the qualifications of the president to vice president candidates as well. Any candidate for vice president must be 35 years-old, be a natural-born citizen, and have lived in the country for 14 years.

Although there are no formal requirements to run for vice president, most vice presidents have extensive experience in public service and politics.

Fig. 2, Vice President Kamala Harris, Wikimedia Commons