3. what role does the
Constitution specify?
• serve as President if he is unable to
serve.
• preside over the Senate (and cast
deciding votes in case of a tie).
4. • “the most insignificant office that ever the
invention of man contrived or his
imagination conceived.”
– John Adams, 1st Vice President
5. • “Once there were two brothers. One
ran away to sea; the other was elected
Vice President of the United States.
And nothing was heard of either of
them again.”
– Thomas R. Marshall, 28th Vice President
6. growth of the office
• was not until 1933 that the Vice
President was invited to Cabinet
meetings.
• Harry Truman was kept uninformed on
all war and postwar issues (including
the atomic bomb).
7. • Richard Nixon reinvented the role of
VP.
– presided over Cabinet meetings in
Eisenhower’s absence
– first VP to temporarily assume control of
executive branch (after Ike had a heart
attack).
9. 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 duties
of his office.
– the VP and majority of the members of the
Cabinet inform Congress, in writing, that the
President is incapacitated.
10. presidential succession
• do you agree?
• should it be restricted to only elected
officials?
• what qualities does the person taking
over the Presidency need? Are there
any positions that might be better
qualified?
