Vice Presidents of the United States

Vice Presidents of the United States
Post	Vice President
Body	the United States
Insigniasize	120
Insigniacaption	Seal of the Vice President
Incumbent	Kamala Harris
Incumbentsince	January 20, 2021
Department	United States Senate, Executive Office of the President
Style	Madam Vice President (informal), The Honorable (formal), Madam President (within the Senate)
Residence	Number One Observatory Circle
Appointer	Electoral College or presidential succession
Termlength	Four years, no term limit
Formation	U.S. Constitution, March 4, 1789
Firstholder	John Adams
Salary	$284,600 per annum

Vice Presidents of the United States are constitutional officers who rank first in the presidential line of succession and serve as the president of the United States Senate. The office was established by Article II of the Constitution of the United States and has evolved from a largely ceremonial role into a significant position within the Executive Office of the President. Since the administration of Jimmy Carter, vice presidents have been integral to White House policymaking, national security via the National Security Council, and diplomatic missions.

Role and responsibilities

The primary constitutional duty is to preside over the United States Senate, casting tie-breaking votes as provided by Article I. The vice president also formally receives and counts Electoral College ballots from the states during a joint session of Congress. Modern responsibilities, codified by statutes like the National Security Act of 1947 and expanded by executive orders, include membership on the National Security Council and leading interagency groups such as the National Space Council. Vice presidents frequently undertake diplomatic travel, representing the administration abroad, and advise the president on major policy areas, as seen with Al Gore's work on the information superhighway and Dick Cheney's role in the War in Afghanistan.

Selection and election

Vice presidential candidates are selected by the Democratic or Republican presidential nominee at their party's national convention, a practice solidified in the 20th century. The Twelfth Amendment, ratified after the contentious election of 1800, mandates separate Electoral College ballots for president and vice president. Candidates typically balance the ticket geographically or ideologically, as with John F. Kennedy choosing Lyndon B. Johnson from Texas or Donald Trump selecting Mike Pence from Indiana. The formal election occurs alongside the presidential election every four years on Election Day.

History and evolution of the office

Initially, the vice presidency was awarded to the presidential runner-up, as with the first holder, John Adams, under the original rules of Article II. This often led to administrative discord, exemplified by the rift between Thomas Jefferson and President John Adams. The office was considered insignificant for much of the 19th century, with figures like John Nance Garner famously describing it as "not worth a bucket of warm spit." Its stature grew after World War II, with Richard Nixon undertaking major international trips and Walter Mondale establishing a formal office in the West Wing under President Jimmy Carter. The Twenty-fifth Amendment, ratified following the assassination of President Kennedy, provided a clear process for filling vice presidential vacancies.

List of vice presidents

There have been 49 vice presidents, with Kamala Harris serving as the 49th and first woman and person of South Asian and African American descent. Eight vice presidents have ascended to the presidency due to the death or resignation of the president, including Theodore Roosevelt after the assassination of William McKinley and Gerald Ford following the resignation of Richard Nixon. Notable 20th-century holders include Hubert Humphrey, Nelson Rockefeller, and George H. W. Bush. The longest-serving vice president was John Nance Garner, who served two full terms under Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Succession to the presidency

Nine vice presidents have assumed the presidency intra-term: eight due to the president's death and one from resignation. The Presidential Succession Act of 1947, updated after the September 11 attacks, establishes the line of succession after the vice president, including the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate. The Twenty-fifth Amendment allows the vice president, with a majority of the Cabinet, to declare a president unable to discharge duties, a process invoked during the medical procedures of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.

Modern vice presidency

The contemporary office is a powerful advisory and operational post, with the vice president maintaining a large staff in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and a residence at Number One Observatory Circle. Vice presidents like Joe Biden under Barack Obama played key roles in legislative initiatives such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. They are central to campaign strategy and governing, often acting as a primary surrogate. The increased security and public profile of the office are managed by the United States Secret Service and symbolized by events like the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Category:Vice Presidents of the United States Category:United States government officials