CHAPTER 13:2: The Vice President
Chapter 13:2 Objectives: o Students will examine the provisions of Presidential successions. o Students will examine how the Presidential disability is determined and dealt with. o Students will examine the Vice Presidency, in history and today.
Exo_24:13 And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION OF VICE PRESIDENCY: o If the President dies, or resigns, or is removed from office by impeachment, the Vice President automatically succeeds to the office. o Originally, the Constitution did not provide for succession of the Vice President, however. o Rather, it declared that the powers and duties of the office, not the office itself, were to devolve on the Vice President.
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION OF VICE PRESIDENCY: o The practice began with John Tyler in 1841, and that should the office become vacant, the Vice President succeeded to it. o That informal amendment became a part of the written Constitution with the adoption of the 25th Amendment in 1967. o This states, In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION OF VICE PRESIDENCY: o Congress fixes the order of succession following the Vice-President. o The present law in the matter is the Presidential Succession Act of 1947. o The Speaker of the House and the President Pro-Tem of the Senate were next in line. o Followed by the Secretary of State and then each of the other 14 heads of the cabinet departments in order of precedence.
PRESIDENTIAL DISABILITY: o Before the passage of the 25th Amendment, there were serious gaps in the arrangement for presidential succession. o The plan by which a vacancy in the presidency would be filled. o Neither the Constitution nor Congress had made any provision for deciding when a President was disabled. o Nor was there anything to indicate by whom such a decision was to be made.
PRESIDENTIAL DISABILITY: o For nearly 180 years, the nation played with fate. o Woodrow Wilson s stroke. o James Garfield lingering for 80 days.
PRESIDENTIAL DISABILITY: o 25th Amendment fill the disability gap, and in detail. o The Vice President is to become acting President if: o (1) The president informs congress in writing, that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. o Or o (2) The Vice President and a majority of the members of cabinet inform Congress, in writing that the President is so incapacitated.
PRESIDENTIAL DISABILITY: o In either case, the President may resume the powers and duties of the office by informing Congress that no disability exists. o However, the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet may challenge the President on this score. o Congress then has 21 days in which to decide the matter.
PRESIDENTIAL DISABILITY: o This came only once when Reagan had surgery for tumor and transferred power to Bush and when he awoke, transferred back the power.
THE VICE PRESIDENCY: o The Constitution pays little attention to the office. o It assigns the Vice President only two formal duties:
THE VICE PRESIDENCY: o (1) To preside over the Senate o (2) To help decide the question of presidential disability. o Beyond those duties, the Constitution makes the Vice President a Presidentin-waiting. o Many Vice Presidents themselves disparage the Vice Presidency as insignificant.
IMPORTANCE OF THE OFFICE: o Presidential candidate usually picks a running mate to balance the ticket to further their chances. o When a VP resigns or succeeds to the Presidency, then the President nominates the VP and he is confirmed by the Senate. o Nixon selected Ford and Ford selected Rockefeller.
IMPORTANCE OF THE OFFICE: o In Clinton s Administration. o Gore given role as close advisor and did some foreign policy duties. o Only a heartbeat away from the Presidency.
IMPORTANCE OF THE OFFICE: o So far, no President has upgraded the Vice President to the role of a true assistant president. o The major reason: of all the President s official family, only the Vice President is not subject to the ultimate discipline of removal from office by the President. o No matter what the circumstance, the President cannot fire the VP.
If you were running for President, what would you look for in choosing someone to be vicepresident?
POP QUIZ!!!!!!!!!!
Who does the Vice President preside over? A The Senate B The House of Representatives C The Presidency D San Gabriel Academy
If the President dies, or resigns, or is removed from office by impeachment, the automatically succeeds to the office B Speaker of the House A-Adam Brown C Vice President D Senate Pro Temp
Who is next in line for the presidency after the Vice President? B Speaker of the House A-The Cabinet heads C Vice President D Senate Pro Temp
Who fixed the order of succession after the Vice President? B The Constitution A-The Supreme Court C Congress D Senate Pro Temp
The current Vice President of the United States is? B Eric Holdom A-Bonny Tang C Bob Kerry D Joe Biden
Who is next in line for the presidency after the speaker of the House? B Speaker of the House A-The Cabinet heads C Vice President D Senate Pro Temp
What amendment to the Constitution states when a Vice President can be a ACTING president? B Nineteenth Amendment A-Twenty Fifth Amendment C Fourteenth Amendment D Eleventh Amendment