Malcolm Rivera
The Vice President of the United States (VPOTUS) is the second-highest-ranking office in the executive branch of the US federal government. The role is often described as being a heartbeat away from the presidency, as the vice president takes over the role of president if the president is unable to perform their duties. The vice president is also an officer in the legislative branch, as the president of the Senate, and is empowered to preside over the US Senate, but may not vote except to cast a tie-breaking vote. The vice president is chosen by the president and is often selected as a running mate due to their legislative relationships.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ranking in the US federal government | Second-highest ranking office in the executive branch of the US federal government |
| Position in the presidential line of succession | First |
| Role in the legislative branch | Officer in the legislative branch |
| Role in the Senate | President of the Senate |
| Voting rights in the Senate | Can only vote in case of a tie |
| Election | Indirectly elected at the same time as the president to a four-year term by the people of the United States through the Electoral College |
| Filling a vacancy | Done by presidential nomination and confirmation by a majority vote in both houses of Congress |
| Relationship with the president | Often an important liaison between the administration and Congress |
| Selection criteria | Traits the presidential candidate is perceived to lack, name recognition, fostering party unity, geographic and ideological factors |
| Support | Supported by personnel in the Office of the Vice President of the United States |
| Protection | Handled by the US Secret Service |
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What You'll Learn
- The VP is second-in-command and takes over if the president is unable to perform their duties
- They are an officer in the legislative branch, acting as President of the Senate
- The VP is chosen based on traits the presidential candidate lacks or for name recognition
- They are protected by the U.S. Secret Service, who also protect the VP's family
- The VP acts as a liaison between the administration and Congress and may be delegated tasks by the president
The VP is second-in-command and takes over if the president is unable to perform their duties
The Vice President of the United States (VPOTUS) is the second-highest-ranking office in the executive branch of the US federal government. The VP is second-in-command and takes over if the president is unable to perform their duties. This is often summarised as the VP being "a heartbeat away from the presidency".
The VP is also an officer in the legislative branch, as the President of the Senate. In this capacity, the VP can preside over the US Senate but may not vote except to cast a tie-breaking vote. The VP is indirectly elected at the same time as the president to a four-year term of office by the people of the United States through the Electoral College.
Historically, the VP was primarily a legislative position and spent most of their time in Congress. However, in recent decades, presidents have chosen to broaden their VPs' jobs, relying on them as true partners and advisers. The VP is often selected as a running mate due to their legislative relationships and to balance out the presidential ticket.
The VP is supported by personnel in the Office of the Vice President of the United States, which was created in the Reorganization Act of 1939. The US Secret Service is in charge of protecting the VP and their family.
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They are an officer in the legislative branch, acting as President of the Senate
The Vice President of the United States (VPOTUS) is an officer in the legislative branch, acting as President of the Senate. The role of the vice president has evolved over time, and while it was once primarily a legislative position, it now has a broader range of responsibilities.
As an officer in the legislative branch, the vice president is empowered to preside over the United States Senate. This includes responsibilities such as signing or attesting to bills sent to the president for signature. The vice president also has the power to cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate, although they cannot usually vote on legislation or other motions unless there is a deadlock. This role is established by Article I, Section 3 of the US Constitution, which states that the vice president "shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided."
Historically, the vice president spent most of their time in Congress, and in the 19th century and early 20th century, they could take part in Senate proceedings and make long-term consequential decisions. However, over time, the role of the vice president has expanded beyond the legislative branch, and they now also have significant responsibilities in the executive branch. The vice president is now often seen as a true partner and adviser to the president, providing valuable expertise in areas such as foreign policy and legislative relationships.
The vice president is also in line to take over the role of president if the president is unable to perform their duties, either temporarily or for the remainder of the presidential term. This responsibility is known colloquially as being "a heartbeat away from the presidency." In addition, the vice president has a pivotal role in situations where the president may be unable to discharge their official duties but has not notified Congress. In such cases, the vice president, along with a majority of the cabinet or a disability board, can notify Congress of the president's inability to serve and assume the role of acting president.
The vice president is indirectly elected at the same time as the president to a four-year term of office by the people of the United States through the Electoral College. The selection of a vice-presidential candidate is an important strategic decision, as they may be chosen based on traits the presidential candidate is perceived to lack or to foster party unity.
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The VP is chosen based on traits the presidential candidate lacks or for name recognition
The Vice President of the United States (VPOTUS) is the second-highest ranking office in the executive branch of the US federal government. The vice president is also an officer in the legislative branch, as the president of the Senate. The vice president is empowered to preside over the US Senate and cast a tie-breaking vote when senators are deadlocked 50-50.
The VP is chosen as a running mate based on various factors, one of which is to compensate for the presidential candidate's shortcomings. The vice president is often selected to make up for traits the presidential candidate lacks or to provide expertise in areas where the candidate may have limited experience. This was the case with Jimmy Carter, who, as an outsider to Washington, chose Walter Mondale as his running mate to benefit from his Washington experience and make him a partner and advisor. Similarly, Dick Cheney, with his experience in Congress and as defence secretary, was a valuable asset to President George W. Bush in the areas of foreign policy and legislation.
Another factor in choosing a VP running mate is name recognition. Popular runners-up in the presidential nomination process are often considered to foster party unity and enhance the chances of success for the national ticket. However, this strategy has sometimes resulted in vice presidents being at odds with the presidential candidate's regions, constituencies, or ideologies, leading to their exclusion from the policy-making process. Historically, vice presidential nominees were chosen to appease the party's minority faction, satisfy party bosses, or secure a key state, rather than for their compatibility with the presidential candidate.
The role of the vice president has evolved over time, and in recent decades, presidents have chosen to broaden their VPs' jobs. The vice president often serves as an important liaison between the administration and Congress, especially when the president has limited experience in this area. This was the case with Donald Trump, who appointed Mike Pence to lead his response to COVID-19, and Biden, who tasked Kamala Harris with controlling migration at the US-Mexico border.
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They are protected by the U.S. Secret Service, who also protect the VP's family
The vice president of the United States (VPOTUS) is the second-highest-ranking office in the executive branch of the US federal government. The vice president and their family are protected by the US Secret Service. The Secret Service assigns codenames to the vice president, their spouse, children, and other immediate family members. This practice was originally implemented for security purposes and to ensure the safety of the vice president and their family.
The vice president is also an officer in the legislative branch, serving as the president of the Senate. In this capacity, they can preside over the Senate and cast a tie-breaking vote when needed. The vice president's role in the Senate is outlined in Article I, Section 3 of the US Constitution, which states that they "shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided."
Historically, the role of the vice president has evolved over time. During the 19th century and into the early 20th century, vice presidents had more legislative responsibilities and often spent most of their time in Congress. They could preside over Senate proceedings and make long-term consequential decisions on rare occasions. However, in more recent times, the vice president's role has expanded beyond the legislative branch, with presidents choosing to broaden their VPs' jobs and include them in the executive branch functions.
The vice president's primary constitutional role is to serve as acting president temporarily or for the remainder of a presidential term when there is a vacancy or inability to serve on the president's part. This responsibility is outlined in the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution, which formalised the procedure for presidential succession.
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The VP acts as a liaison between the administration and Congress and may be delegated tasks by the president
The Vice President of the United States (VPOTUS) is the second-highest-ranking office in the executive branch of the US federal government. The VP is also an officer in the legislative branch, as the President of the Senate. The role of the VP has evolved over the years, with presidents choosing to broaden their VPs' jobs. The VP acts as a liaison between the administration and Congress and may be delegated tasks by the president.
Historically, the VP's role was primarily legislative, presiding over the Senate as a full-time occupant. The VP's role in Congress is established by Article I, Section 3 of the US Constitution, which states that the VP "shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided." As head of the upper house of Congress, the VP votes on legislation or other motions only when Senators are deadlocked 50-50.
In recent times, the VP's role has expanded beyond the legislative branch. Presidents have increasingly relied on their VPs' experience and expertise, making them true partners and advisers. For example, Jimmy Carter, elected in 1976 as a Washington outsider, relied on his running mate Walter Mondale's Washington savvy. Similarly, Dick Cheney, the VP under President George W. Bush, offered valuable legislative and foreign policy experience due to his previous roles as a member of Congress and defense secretary.
The VP's role as a liaison between the administration and Congress is particularly important when the president has limited experience serving in Congress. The VP's legislative relationships and expertise can help facilitate negotiations and build bipartisan support for the administration's agenda. This role was exemplified by Joe Biden, who played a key role in bipartisan budget negotiations during his time as VP.
In addition to their liaison role, the VP may be delegated specific tasks or responsibilities by the president. For example, in February 2020, President Donald Trump appointed Mike Pence to lead the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, President Biden tasked Kamala Harris with controlling migration at the US-Mexico border. These delegations of authority from the president can vary in significance and reflect the president's trust and confidence in their VP.
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Frequently asked questions
The vice president of the United States (VPOTUS) is the second-highest-ranking office in the executive branch of the US federal government. They are also an officer in the legislative branch, as the president of the Senate, and can preside over the US Senate. They are empowered to cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate. The vice president takes over the role of president if the president is unable to perform their duties.
The vice president is indirectly elected at the same time as the president to a four-year term by the people of the United States through the Electoral College. The vice presidential candidate might be chosen based on traits the presidential candidate is perceived to lack, or for name recognition.
The vice president is often an important liaison between the administration and Congress, especially when the president has not served in Congress for long. They are a statutory member of the National Security Council and the board of regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
The US vice president has several unique constitutional roles in the federal government. They can be granted certain powers by the president and Congress. They can also assume the role of acting president if the president is deemed unable to discharge their official duties, and they have the power to notify Congress of this.
The current vice president of the United States is James David (JD) Vance, who was sworn in on 20 January 2025.
