The Vice President & theSuccession of the President

of the United States

What role should the vice-president play in ourgovernment?

what role does theConstitution specify?

• serve as President if he is unable toserve.

• preside over the Senate (and castdeciding votes in case of a tie).

• “the most insignificant office that ever theinvention of man contrived or hisimagination conceived.”– John Adams, 1st Vice President

• “Once there were two brothers. Oneran away to sea; the other was electedVice President of the United States.And nothing was heard of either ofthem again.”– Thomas R. Marshall, 28th Vice President

growth of the office

• was not until 1933 that the VicePresident was invited to Cabinetmeetings.

• Harry Truman was kept uninformed onall war and postwar issues (includingthe atomic bomb).

• Richard Nixon reinvented the role ofVP.– presided over Cabinet meetings in

Eisenhower’s absence– first VP to temporarily assume control of

executive branch (after Ike had a heartattack).

Dick Cheney’s impact

• positive or negative?

25th Amendment

• fills the gaps in presidential succession.• determines when a President is unable to

perform his duties.– president may inform Congress, in writing, that

he is unable to discharge the powers and dutiesof his office.

– the VP and majority of the members of theCabinet inform Congress, in writing, that thePresident is incapacitated.

presidential succession

• do you agree?• should it be restricted to only elected

officials?• what qualities does the person taking

over the Presidency need? Are thereany positions that might be betterqualified?