Have you ever considered the unique role of the vice president? Is it a position of significance to you?According to an article I read by Andrew Prokop, the Vice-Presidency of the United States is “an odd office. Its main function is simply having someone on deck if the President dies or resigns. But the office has very few formal powers. Modern presidents sometimes delegate tasks for their vice president to do, but veeps mostly just hang around waiting for their chance at the big job.” (1)
The Uniqueness of the Vice-President’s Role
I beg to differ with Mr. Prokop’s assessment! Sadly, I think a majority of Americans believe, as Mr. Prokop does, that the job is menial unless the President dies or leaves office. Let’s briefly consider the role of the Vice President and its importance or lack thereof.
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According to my observation and study through the years, the Vice-President has at least seven roles if the President chooses to use his VP to a more significant extent. Such as:
Presidential succession in case the President’s office is vacated
Constitutional duties, such as President of the Senate
Serving as the President’s advisor in policy and critical decisions
Functioning as a diplomat to promote U.S. interests at home and abroad
Promotes the President’s agenda and engages in the administration’s political strategy
Acts as the President’s spokesperson, rallying support for the administration’s agenda
Manages crises by developing strategies and implementing them
Handles special initiatives like national security or space exploration
Perception vs Reality of the Vice-President’s Role
Does the office of the Vice-Presidency sound like an “odd” office? And does the office have very few formal powers? If so, how many formal powers should a U.S. President have? The above list seems to require more than sitting around as a placeholder until the time comes when the VP is needed to step up.
Rather than viewing the Vice Presidency as an afterthought, it’s important to align our perceptions of the official duties with the reality of what those duties actually are.
It’s crucial that we devote sufficient time to thoroughly vetting VP candidates for their job capabilities, rather than relying solely on a one-time debate or current discourse. While it’s true that VP candidates are chosen by their running mate with input from their political party, it’s equally important for ‘We the People’ to be well informed. After all, the VP candidate could potentially become a presidential contender in the future.
This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. đŸ‡ºđŸ‡¸
(1) Prokop, Andrew. “Vox’s Today Explained.” Received by Subscribers, Newsletter@vox.Com, 21 May 2024, Accessed 21 May 2024.
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