United States Government: Democracy in Action

"The Vice Presidency"

Introduction
In this chapter you learned about the office of the president or vice president, the Electoral College, the cabinet, and the various components of the Executive Office of the President. One person who historically has been overlooked and unappreciated is the vice president of the United States. In this activity, you will take a closer look at the roles and responsibilities of the vice president and read about notable vice presidents of the past.

Destination Title: U.S. Senate: Vice President of the United States

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Directions

• Read through the introduction and five chapters that define the scope of the vice president and the limits and responsibilities of the office.

After you have read through the information, answer the following questions.

1			Describe how the process of selecting the vice president was conducted prior to the passage of the Twelfth Amendment.
2			What are the two roles of the vice president as stated by the Constitution?
3			Which amendment ensures a legal and constitutional succession from vice president to president?
4			How many vice presidents went on to become President?
5			On a separate piece of paper, write a poem about one of the vice presidents you have read about or about the office of the vice president in general. You may use a formal poetic style, such as haiku or limerick, or a free verse style if you prefer.