The Executive - The Vice President Flashcards
Roles of the Vice President
- Providing expertise
- Acting as a congressional liaison
- Responsibility for specific policy areas
- ‘Balancing the ticket’
Example of VP providing expertise
Biden provided experience of 37 years in the Senate to help young Obama
Example of VP acting as a congressional liaison
Following over 35 years in Congress, Biden helped Obama pass the affordable care act
Example of VP having responsibility for specific policy areas
Al Gore had expertise in technology and helped introduce it to Congress
Example of VP ‘Balancing the ticket’
Clinton was from the Midwest
Al Gore therefore had the role of representing the North East
Example of VP leading policy
Dec 2012, Biden named by Obama to head a gun violence Task Force
What factors influence the role of the VP
Relationship with President Level of experience Current events If they have an area of expertise Extent of VP's presidential ambitions
Powers of the VP
- VP becomes President if President cannot continue
25th Amendment - VP becomes acting President if President is disabled
- Announcing ECVs
- Power to break a tie in the Senate
- Presiding officer of the Senate (rarely used)
Example of VP filling in for President
Has occurred 3 times
Most recently 21 July 2007 when George W. Bush underwent Surgery
Example of VP becoming President
Has occurred 9 times
Most recently when Ford took over from Nixon following Watergate resignation
Example of VP announcing ECVs
Al Gore had to announce his own defeat in 2001
Example of VP breaking a tie in the Senate
Dick Cheney cast a tie-breaking vote in April 2001 to protect Bush’s $1.6 trillion tax cut
Pence
Example of VP as presiding officer of the Senate
Pence presided over Senate tax bill (2017)
