The Executive Branch

The Vice President

Second in command, first in the line of succession, and the most constitutionally underutilized job in the federal government.

📖 10 min read•Article II + 12th Amendment•50 Vice Presidents

What Is the Vice President?

The Vice President is the second-highest office in the United States government. They're elected alongside the president as a running mate, voters pick them as a package deal. But once in office, the VP's actual day-to-day role is surprisingly limited by the Constitution. John Adams, the first VP, famously described the job as "the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived."

And yet, the VP is one heartbeat away from the most powerful job on earth. Nine vice presidents have gone on to become president. That single fact makes the office far more important in practice than its formal job description suggests.

VPs Who Became President

Either through succession or later election

Total Vice Presidents

John Adams (1789) through JD Vance (2025)

Constitutional Job

President of the Senate, casts tie-breaking votes

Why Does the Office Exist?

The founders created the vice presidency for two practical reasons. First, they needed someone to preside over the Senate , a neutral figure who could manage debate without being a senator themselves. Second, they needed a clear line of succession in case a president died, resigned, or was removed.

The original design was unusual: the person who came in second in the Electoral College became VP. So in 1796, John Adams won the presidency and his opponent Thomas Jefferson became his vice president. This led to obvious friction between a president and a VP from opposing factions.

The 1800 Crisis That Changed Everything

In 1800, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr were running mates , but they each got the same number of electoral votes, throwing the election to the House of Representatives. It took 36 ballots to elect Jefferson. This disaster prompted the 12th Amendment (1804), which required electors to cast separate votes for president and vice president. From that point on, running mates were elected together as a team.

What the Constitution Says

Article II, where the VP is established (Public Domain)

The vice presidency is mentioned in several places in the Constitution, but the actual job description is remarkably brief. The founders gave the VP just one formal duty , presiding over the Senate, and left everything else up to the president and circumstances.

The requirements to become VP are identical to the presidency: at least 35 years old, a natural-born US citizen, and a resident of the US for at least 14 years.

What the Constitution Says About the VP

Article I, Section 3

"The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided."

Article II, Section 1

"In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President."

12th Amendment (1804)

"The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves..."

In plain English: The VP runs the Senate but only votes to break a tie. If the president can't serve, the VP takes over. President and VP are elected together on the same ticket.

What Does the VP Actually Do?

The Constitution gives the VP just one real job. But in modern presidencies, vice presidents have taken on much larger roles. Here's how the office actually works today:

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President of the Senate

The VP's only formal constitutional duty. They preside over Senate sessions, managing debate, recognizing speakers, and keeping order. In practice, this role is almost entirely ceremonial and is usually handled by the President Pro Tempore or junior senators. The VP only shows up when their vote might be needed.

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Tie-Breaking Vote in the Senate

When the Senate is split 50-50, the VP casts the deciding vote. This is rare but hugely consequential. VP Kamala Harris cast a record 32 tie-breaking votes in her term. VP Mike Pence cast 13. A single tie-breaking vote has passed major legislation that shaped the country.

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Counts the Electoral College Votes

On January 6th following a presidential election, the VP presides over a joint session of Congress to officially count and certify the Electoral College votes. This is largely ceremonial, but the January 6, 2021 events put this normally routine duty at the center of national attention.

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Whatever the President Assigns

Beyond the formal duties, the VP's actual workload is entirely up to the president. Modern VPs lead major policy initiatives, represent the US on diplomatic trips, serve as key advisers, break gridlock in Congress, and serve as the president's most important political ally. Dick Cheney was considered one of the most powerful VPs in history. Others have had much smaller roles.

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Be Ready to Be President

The most important unofficial job of any VP. Eight presidents have died in office and one resigned, in each case the VP stepped in immediately. The VP must be fully briefed on all national security matters, have a staff ready to govern, and be prepared to take over on a moment's notice.

The VP and the Senate

The Senate chamber, where the VP presides and casts tie-breaking votes (Public Domain)

The VP's connection to the Senate creates an interesting constitutional quirk: the VP is simultaneously part of the executive branch (elected with the president) and serves as an officer of the legislative branch (presiding over the Senate). This dual role has led to occasional debates about conflicts of interest and separation of powers.

The Tie-Breaking Record

Most tie-breaking votes everJohn Adams, 29 votes

Most in modern eraKamala Harris, 32 votes

Fewest (multiple VPs)Several VPs cast zero votes

Most consequentialDick Cheney, 2001 tax cuts

The January 6th Role

Every four years, the VP presides over the joint session of Congress that certifies the Electoral College results. Until January 6, 2021, this was entirely routine and ceremonial. That day brought unprecedented national attention to a constitutional duty most Americans didn't know existed, and raised lasting questions about the VP's role in the certification process.

The 25th Amendment: When Things Go Wrong

Passed in 1967 after the shock of JFK's assassination exposed gaps in the succession process, the 25th Amendment is the VP's most important constitutional document. It spells out exactly what happens when a president can't do their job:

Section 1

VP Becomes President if the Seat Is Vacant

If the president dies, resigns, or is removed, the VP immediately becomes president, not acting president, but the full president. This has happened eight times in US history.

Section 2

Filling a VP Vacancy

If the VP position becomes vacant (through death, resignation, or succession), the president nominates a new VP who must be confirmed by a majority vote in both chambers of Congress. Gerald Ford and Nelson Rockefeller both became VP through this process.

Section 3

President Voluntarily Transfers Power

If the president knows they'll be temporarily unable to serve, such as during surgery, they can send written notice to Congress. The VP becomes acting president until the president sends another letter saying they're able to resume.

Section 4

Involuntary Transfer of Power

If the VP and a majority of the Cabinet believe the president is unable to perform their duties, even if the president disagrees, they can transmit a written declaration to Congress. The VP immediately becomes acting president. The president can contest it; Congress then has 21 days to decide by a two-thirds supermajority. This section has never been invoked.

The 9 VPs Who Became President

The vice presidency has been called a stepping stone, and the numbers back that up. Nearly one in five VPs has gone on to hold the presidency:

John Adams (VP #1)

Elected president in 1796, 2nd President

Thomas Jefferson (VP #2)

Elected president in 1800, 3rd President

Martin Van Buren (VP #8)

Elected president in 1836, 8th President

John Tyler (VP #10)

Succeeded after Harrison died 31 days in, 10th President

Millard Fillmore (VP #12)

Succeeded after Taylor died in office, 13th President

Andrew Johnson (VP #16)

Succeeded after Lincoln was assassinated, 17th President

Chester A. Arthur (VP #20)

Succeeded after Garfield was assassinated, 21st President

Theodore Roosevelt (VP #25)

Succeeded after McKinley was assassinated, 26th President

Calvin Coolidge (VP #29)

Succeeded after Harding died in office, 30th President

Harry Truman (VP #34)

Succeeded after FDR died in office, 33rd President

Lyndon B. Johnson (VP #37)

Succeeded after Kennedy was assassinated, 36th President

Richard Nixon (VP #36)

Elected president in 1968, 37th President

Gerald Ford (VP #40)

Succeeded after Nixon resigned, 38th President

George H.W. Bush (VP #43)

Elected president in 1988, 41st President

Joe Biden (VP #47)

Elected president in 2020, 46th President

All 50 Vice Presidents of the United States

Every person who has served as Vice President, from John Adams (1789) to JD Vance (2025).

IndependentFederalistDem.-RepublicanWhigDemocratRepublican

John Adams

1789–1797

Under Washington

Federalist

Became 2nd President

Thomas Jefferson

1797–1801

Under Adams

Dem.-Republican

Became 3rd President

Aaron Burr

1801–1805

Under Jefferson

Dem.-Republican

George Clinton

1805–1812

Under Jefferson & Madison

Dem.-Republican

Died in office

Elbridge Gerry

1813–1814

Under Madison

Dem.-Republican

Died in office

Daniel D. Tompkins

1817–1825

Under Monroe

Dem.-Republican

John C. Calhoun

1825–1832

Under Adams & Jackson

Dem.-Republican

Resigned

Martin Van Buren

1833–1837

Under Jackson

Democrat

Became 8th President

Richard M. Johnson

1837–1841

Under Van Buren

Democrat

John Tyler

1841

Under Harrison

Whig

Became 10th President

George M. Dallas

1845–1849

Under Polk

Democrat

Millard Fillmore

1849–1850

Under Taylor

Whig

Became 13th President

William R.D. King

1853

Under Pierce

Democrat

Died in office

John C. Breckinridge

1857–1861

Under Buchanan

Democrat

Hannibal Hamlin

1861–1865

Under Lincoln (1st term)

Republican

Andrew Johnson

1865

Under Lincoln

Democrat

Became 17th President

Schuyler Colfax

1869–1873

Under Grant (1st term)

Republican

Henry Wilson

1873–1875

Under Grant (2nd term)

Republican

Died in office

William A. Wheeler

1877–1881

Under Hayes

Republican

Chester A. Arthur

1881

Under Garfield

Republican

Became 21st President

Thomas A. Hendricks

1885

Under Cleveland (1st)

Democrat

Died in office

Levi P. Morton

1889–1893

Under B. Harrison

Republican

Adlai Stevenson I

1893–1897

Under Cleveland (2nd)

Democrat

Garret Hobart

1897–1899

Under McKinley

Republican

Died in office

Theodore Roosevelt

1901

Under McKinley

Republican

Became 26th President

Charles W. Fairbanks

1905–1909

Under T. Roosevelt

Republican

James S. Sherman

1909–1912

Under Taft

Republican

Died in office

Thomas R. Marshall

1913–1921

Under Wilson

Democrat

Calvin Coolidge

1921–1923

Under Harding

Republican

Became 30th President

Charles G. Dawes

1925–1929

Under Coolidge

Republican

Charles Curtis

1929–1933

Under Hoover

Republican

John Nance Garner

1933–1941

Under FDR (1st & 2nd)

Democrat

Henry A. Wallace

1941–1945

Under FDR (3rd term)

Democrat

Harry S. Truman

1945

Under FDR

Democrat

Became 33rd President

Alben W. Barkley

1949–1953

Under Truman

Democrat

Richard Nixon

1953–1961

Under Eisenhower

Republican

Became 37th President

Lyndon B. Johnson

1961–1963

Under Kennedy

Democrat

Became 36th President

Hubert Humphrey

1965–1969

Under LBJ

Democrat

Spiro Agnew

1969–1973

Under Nixon

Republican

Resigned

Gerald Ford

1973–1974

Under Nixon

Republican

Became 38th President

Nelson Rockefeller

1974–1977

Under Ford

Republican

Walter Mondale

1977–1981

Under Carter

Democrat

George H.W. Bush

1981–1989

Under Reagan

Republican

Became 41st President

Dan Quayle

1989–1993

Under GHW Bush

Republican

Al Gore

1993–2001

Under Clinton

Democrat

Dick Cheney

2001–2009

Under GW Bush

Republican

Joe Biden

2009–2017

Under Obama

Democrat

Became 46th President

Mike Pence

2017–2021

Under Trump (1st term)

Republican

Kamala Harris

2021–2025

Under Biden

Democrat

First woman VP

JD Vance

2025–Present

Under Trump (2nd term)

Republican

Current

Current Vice President

JD Vance

50th Vice President of the United States

PartyRepublican

TermJan 20, 2025 – Present

UnderPresident Donald Trump

BornJuly 2, 1984

Home StateOhio

Former US Senator from Ohio (2023–2025). Author of "Hillbilly Elegy." The youngest VP since Dan Quayle.

Quick Facts

Total VPs50

Minimum Age35 (same as President)

Citizenship Req.Natural Born US Citizen

Residency Req.14 Years in the US

Term Length4 Years (with President)

Senate RolePresident of the Senate

Votes In SenateOnly to break ties

Salary$235,100/year

ResidenceNumber One Observatory Circle

VPs Who Died4 died in office

VPs Who Resigned2 (Calhoun, Agnew)

VPs → Presidents9 total

First VPJohn Adams (1789)

Established1789

Where to Find It

Article I, §3VP is President of the Senate, only votes to break ties

Article II, §1VP takes over if president dies, resigns, or is removed

12th Amendment (1804)President and VP elected separately on the same ticket

20th Amendment (1933)VP-elect takes over if president-elect dies before inauguration

25th Amendment (1967)Full rules for VP succession and presidential disability

Did You Know?

The VP's house wasn't always free

For most of US history, vice presidents had to pay for their own housing in DC. It wasn't until 1974 that Congress designated Number One Observatory Circle as the official VP residence. Nelson Rockefeller was the first VP to live there officially.

Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton

VP Aaron Burr shot and killed former Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804, while still serving as VP. He was charged with murder in both New York and New Jersey but was never tried. He completed his term.

John C. Calhoun served under two different presidents

Calhoun is the only VP to serve under two presidents from different parties, John Quincy Adams (Democratic-Republican) and Andrew Jackson (Democrat). He eventually resigned to take a Senate seat.

The VP residence has a name

Number One Observatory Circle sits on the grounds of the US Naval Observatory in Washington DC. It was built in 1893 as the home for the observatory superintendent. The VP gets a full staff, security detail, and the house, but pays for their own food and personal expenses.

Keep Exploring

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