Electing the Vice President 1804

Electing the Vice President • (1804) – – Candidates run as a team Same eligibility requirements as POTUS Inhabitant clause THE VICE VP chosen by Senate STEPPING PRESIDENCY: STONE OR MILLSTONE? • Only presidents have served two full terms – Obama will be the if he finishes his 2 nd term • VP have become POTUS – – VP have taken office upon death of the POTUS after resignation of POTUS VP have followed POTUS they served VP was elected eight years later

Selecting the VP • – Attract voters/appease party factions – – North/South Urban/rural Liberal/moderate Young/old • – Shore up perceived weaknesses of candidate – Domestic/foreign policy – Morality – Socioeconomic

The Job of the Vice President • • "My country has in its wisdom • contrived for me the most • insignificant office that ever the • invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived. " • …………………………. .

The 25 th Amendment (1967) • VP becomes POTUS • If VP is vacant POTUS nominates a candidate – Confirmed by a majority vote of both houses • POTUS may temporarily relinquish power to VP – Letter to Speaker and PPT (until letter to the contrary) • VP and Majority of Ex Dept heads vote for VP to be acting POTUS

Current presidential line of succession, as specified by the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 (3 U. S. C. § 19). # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Office Vice President and President of the Senate Speaker of the House of Representatives President pro tempore of the Senate Secretary of State Secretary of the Treasury Secretary of Defense Attorney General Secretary of the Interior Secretary of Agriculture Secretary of Commerce Secretary of Labor Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary of Housing and Urban Dev. Secretary of Transportation Secretary of Energy Secretary of Education Secretary of Veterans Affairs Secretary of Homeland Security