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VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
The Vice President of the United States[1] (sometimes referred to as
VPOTUS,[2] Veep, or VP) is the first person in the presidential line of
succession, becoming the new President of the United States upon the death,
resignation, or removal of the president. As designated by the Constitution of
the United States, the vice president also serves as the President of the
Senate, and may break tie votes in that chamber. He or she may be assigned
additional duties by the President.
The formal powers and role of the vice president are limited by the
Constitution to becoming President in the event of the death or resignation of
the President and acting as the presiding officer of the U.S. Senate. As
President of the Senate, the Vice President has two primary duties: to cast a
vote in the event of a Senate deadlock and to preside over and certify the
official vote count of the U.S. Electoral College. For example, in the first
half of 2001, the Senators were divided 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats
and Dick Cheney's tie-breaking vote gave the Republicans the Senate majority.
(See 107th United States Congress.)
The informal roles and functions of the Vice President depend on the specific
relationship between the President and the Vice President, but often include
drafter and spokesperson for the administration's policy, as an adviser to the
president, as Chairman of the Board of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA), as a Member of the board of the Smithsonian Institution,
and as a symbol of American concern or support. Their influence in this role
depends almost entirely on the characteristics of the particular administration.
Cheney, for instance, is widely regarded as one of George W. Bush's closest
confidantes. Al Gore was an important advisor to President Bill Clinton on
matters of foreign policy and the environment. Often, Vice Presidents will take
harder-line stands on issues to ensure the support of the party's base while
deflecting partisan criticism away from the President. Under the American system
the President is both head of state and head of government, and the ceremonial
duties of the former position are often delegated to the Vice President. He or
she may meet with other heads of state or attend state funerals in other
countries, at times when the administration wishes to demonstrate concern or
support but cannot send the President himself. Not all Vice Presidents are happy
in their jobs. John Nance Garner, who served as vice president from 1933 to 1941
under President Franklin Roosevelt, famously remarked that the vice presidency
wasn't worth "a warm bucket of piss," although reporters allegedly changed the
spelling of the last word for print.
In recent years, the vice presidency has frequently been used to launch bids
for the presidency. Of the 13 presidential elections from 1956 to 2004, nine
featured the incumbent president; the other four (1960, 1968, 1988, 2000) all
featured the incumbent vice president. Former vice presidents also ran, in 1984
(Walter Mondale), and in 1968 (Richard Nixon, against the incumbent Vice
President Hubert Humphrey).
Since 1974, the official residence of the vice president and his family has
been Number One Observatory Circle, on the grounds of the United States Naval
Observatory in Washington, DC.
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