Vice President of Honduras facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Designates to the Presidency of the Republic of Honduras
Coat of arms of Honduras
Incumbent Doris Gutiérrez Renato Florentino since 27 January 2022
Style	Mr./Madame Vice President (informal) The Most Excellent and His/Her Excellency (formal)
Term length	4 years, non-renewable
Inaugural holder	Marcelino Ponce Martínez, Céleo Arias Moncada, and Arturo Rendón Pineda (1982)
Formation	27 January 1982 (current)

The vice presidents of Honduras, officially called the Designates to the Presidency, hold the second most important political job in Honduras. This means they are chosen to step in if the President cannot do their job. The President and the vice presidents are chosen together in the same election.

From 1957 to 2006, and again from 2010 until now, Honduras has had three vice presidents. They are known as the presidential designates. For a short time, during the government of Manuel Zelaya, there was only one vice president. However, the law was changed back to having three vice presidents in 2008.

What Do Vice Presidents Do?

The main job of the vice presidents is to take over for the President if needed.

Stepping In for the President

• If the President is away or unable to work for a short time, one of the vice presidents steps in. The President chooses which one will fill in temporarily.
• If the President cannot continue their job permanently, one of the three vice presidents takes over. The National Congress (which is like the country's parliament) decides which one.
• If all three vice presidents are unable to serve, the leader of the National Congress becomes the acting President.
• If that person also cannot serve, then the head of the Supreme Court becomes the acting President. They serve until the end of the President's term.

Accountability and Rules

• The National Congress can remove vice presidents from office if they do not perform well or act improperly. This is called impeachment.
• Vice presidents are not allowed to leave Honduras for more than 15 days without getting permission from the National Congress.

Who Can Be a Vice President?

The rules for becoming a vice president are the same as for becoming President.

Requirements to Serve

• You must be born in Honduras.
• You must be at least 30 years old.
• You must have all your civic rights, meaning you are a full citizen with voting rights.
• You cannot be an active leader in any religion.

Restrictions on the Role

• A vice president cannot be elected President while they are still serving in the vice president role.
• They also cannot be elected President within six months after their term ends or if they resign.
• Vice presidents cannot be elected as a member of the National Congress at the same time they are serving as vice president.

A Look at the History of the Role

The role of vice president in Honduras has changed over time.

Early Vice Presidents (1839-1954)

In the early days, from 1839 to 1954, Honduras usually had one vice president. These individuals supported the President and were ready to take over if necessary. Many important figures in Honduran history served in this role.

Changes in the Role (1957-Present)

• Three Vice Presidents (1957-2006): After 1957, the country decided to have three "presidential designates" instead of just one vice president. This system aimed to provide more options for succession.
• One Vice President (2006-2010): For a short period, from 2006 to 2010, the law was changed back to having only one vice president. This happened before the 2005 elections.
• Return to Three Designates (2010-Present): In 2008, the Supreme Court decided that having only one vice president was against the country's laws. So, the system went back to having three presidential designates. This is how it works today. These three people are ready to step in if the President cannot continue their duties.

See also

In Spanish: Designados presidenciales de Honduras para niños