Vice Presidency Flashcards
What’s the normal way the VP gets the job?
elected on joint ticket with the president
What kind of tickets would candidates usually seek?
Balanced
What is the other way that a VP can get the job?
Appointed
What amendments means that the president can fill a vacant VP position if it becomes vacant through things such as death, resignation or removal?
25th amendment 1967
What would an appointed VP be subject to?
Simple majority approval in both houses
What best demonstrates the effects of the 25th amendment 1967?
GOP 1973-4
What are the 5 steps of the GOP 1973-74?
1) Nixon elected with Spiro Agnew as VP
2) Agnew resigns over tax evasion
3) Nixon appoints Ford
4) Nixon Resigns
5) Ford becomes President and appoints Rockefeller as VP
What are the four powers of the VP?
1) Presiding officers of the senate
2) taking over the job
3) Counting the ECVs
4) Breaking a senate tie
Why is the VP being the Presiding officer rare?
The senators themselves usually chair the debates
When would the VP break a tie?
If the senate is tied 50-50 on a policy, then the VP get the deciding vote
When did Cheney use his powers of breaking a tie?
Bush’s 2001 $1.6 trillion tax cut
As a result of his role of counting the ECVs, what must he declare?
the result of the election. This can mean, as in 2000, declaring your own defeat
Assess their power?
Always very close to power but have little in the way of actual highly influential power
Which two VEEPs were chosen on account of their expertise in foreign affairs?
Cheney and Bush Snr
Why was Bush Snr chosen on account of his expertise in foreign affairs?
He had been director of the CIA and acted as an ambassador and advisor for Reagan who knew very little about that kind of stuff
What kind of experience is valuable if the president has none, as seen with Pence and Trump?
Washington
What can the office of VEEP be a training ground for?
future presidents
How has the increased size of federal govrngmtn led to a more important role of VP?
They are needed to help the President to manage the federal department and even have their own responsibility for areas of legislation
Apart from Dan Quayle of course, what has been increasing lately which has made the office of VP more important?
Quality of candidates
The augmented quality of candidates has made the office of VP more what?
Prestigious
What shows that the quality of candidates for VP has been increasing?
Of the 10 VPs between 1952 and 2000 4 have gone on to become president
In what two ways does the VP fulfil the role of Party worker?
Kind of whip
Run election campaigns
What is the fact about Cheney that shows him to be the party worker?
3 fundraisers a week organised by him for the GOP in the run up to the 2002 mid terms raising more than $11 million for the party
What two examples show how the VP can adopt the role of spokesperson?
Cheney was the spokesperson on foreign policy
Gore was the spokesperson on green issues
What is the final role that has grown for the VP?
Their role of insider status and guide for the president
What is Cheney the closest we’ve come to?
A co-president
What is said of Cheney’s relationship with Bush?
If Dick Cheney was assassinated, George Bush would have to become President
What did Cheney revolutionise?
The previously derided role of VP
According to advisors, what three things did Cheney take on?
Economic issues, security issues, even the White House Legislative Agenda
What did Cheney acquire to have influence over congress?
an extra office opposite the HoR
What had Cheney preciously been?
defence secretary under the Old Bush administration as well as a minority whip
What was Cheney behind?
All the major post-9/11 legal and judicial changes such as phone hacking, enhanced interrogation and guantanamo bay
How was Cheney’s post 9/11 policy stopped?
The Supreme Court for military commissions and by McCain on torture
What kind of interviews did Cheney conduct?
the interviews for the Supreme Court nominations
What are Cheney’s two legacies?
1) Expanded the office of VP
2) View that executive power should be far less checked
What was unique about Cheney’s ambition?
he had no ambition for Presidency
What were the two implications of Cheney’s lack of ambition for Presidency?
not a threat and he could take the flack for unpopular decisions
What was there a mismatch in between Cheney and Bush?
Experience
What created a unique environment for Cheney?
9/11
For how long had Biden been a senator for Delaware?
36 years
In which 2 years had Biden sought Presidency?
1988 and 2008
Where does Biden lie of the political spectrum?
centrist and moderate democrat
What was special about Biden that meant that he was the “second poorest man in Congress”?
No income beyond his Senator’s salary
What had Biden chaired in congress?
Two influential committees: judiciary and foreign relations
Biden was not an academic, but he was two things that were nevertheless important. What were they?
He was a good salesman and connected well with voters
What kind of liaison did Biden help Obama with?
Senate
How did Biden help Obama with the Senate?
Helped him to pass the debt ceiling package and the stimulus package
what was Biden put in charge of following Sandy Hook?
proposed gun law reform
What was Biden good at being during discussions?
Devil’s advocate
What does the National journal say about Biden?
Possibly the most influential VP ever
