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The Vice President

The Vice President. What Does He/She Do?. Presidential Succession. The process by which the presidency is filled in the event of: Removal through impeachment Death Resignation Constitution didn’t call for actual assumption of the presidency, only the powers and duties

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The Vice President

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  1. The Vice President What Does He/She Do?

  2. Presidential Succession • The process by which the presidency is filled in the event of: • Removal through impeachment • Death • Resignation • Constitution didn’t call for actual assumption of the presidency, only the powers and duties • Not the title itself • The 25th Amendment changes this in 1967 • “the Vice President shall become President

  3. William Henry Harrison

  4. Richard Nixon

  5. Presidential Succession • Congress makes the order of succession after the Vice President • Presidential Succession Act of 1947 • Speaker of House -> President pro tem -> Secretary of State • Then the rest of the cabinet positions • In order of creation by Congress • There are some concerns with this order • President could switch parties mid-term • Doubt that congresspersons can serve as President

  6. Presidential Disability • Prior to the 25th Amendment, there was no provision for Presidential Disability • This issue is addressed in 1967 • VP becomes acting POTUS IF: • 1) President informs Congress in writing • 2) VP and majority of the Cabinet informs Congress in writing • President reassumes powers by informing Congress that he is okay • VP can challenge this assertion • These provisions have been used twice • Reagan (during surgery) • Bush II (during surgery)

  7. Vice President’s Job • John Adams: “I am Vice President. In this I am nothing, but I may be everything” • As VP, you are always a second away from being President • Two formal duties • President of the Senate • Breaks ties if needed • Determine if President is incapacitated • Otherwise, he is “president in waiting”

  8. “The most insignificant office…”

  9. “Honorable and easy”

  10. “…isn’t worth a warm pitcher of spit.”

  11. How are VP’s chosen? • They are chosen to “balance the ticket” • Increases Presidential candidates chances of being elected • Could be chosen for the following reasons: • Ideological • Geographic • Racial • Ethnic • Gender • Ability to be President is secondary

  12. Vice Presidential Vacancy • Vice Presidency has been vacant 18 times • Nine times through succession to POTUS • Twice through resignation • Seven times by death • In case of vacancy: • President nominates a new one • Confirmed by both houses of Congress • First used in 1973 (Gerald Ford) • Again in 1974 (Nelson Rockefeller)

  13. Change in Office Vice President have become much more visible They have taken on more duties Cheney was among the most “powerful” VPs Biden wields fairly considerable influence VP cannot be fired by the President

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