WHAT DOES THE U.S. VICE PRESIDENT DO?

Vice President of the United States is the second highest officer of the U.S. government and if something happens to the President, he takes over the top spot. According to the Constitution of the U.S., the Vice Presidents only official duty is to preside over the deliberations of the Senate.

The duties of the office were somewhat expanded during the terms of President Dwight Eisenhower and succeeding presidents. Now the Vice President has many important roles, which include international travel for purposes of fact finding and goodwill as well as responsibility for special governmental projects and committees.

Recent Vice Presidents have been members of the National Security Council and the Urban Affairs Council. Thus, they have been prepared for the potential duties of the President. They also attend and take part in the President's cabinet meetings.

The 25th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1967, provides for filling a vacancy in the office of Vice President: the President nominates a Vice President and the nomination is confirmed by a majority vote of both houses of Congress.

The qualifications needed by the Vice President are the same as those that exist for the presidency.