Vice President of the United States facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vice President of the United States |
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Vice presidential flag
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Vice presidential seal
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| Style |
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| Member of |
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| Residence | Number One Observatory Circle |
| Seat | Washington, D.C. |
| Appointer | Electoral College, or, if vacant, President of the United States via congressional confirmation |
| Term length | Four years, no term limit |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of the United States |
| Formation | March 4, 1789 |
| First holder | John Adams |
| Succession | First |
| Salary | $284,600 per annum |
The vice president of the United States (often called VPOTUS) is the second most important job in the executive branch of the U.S. government. This means they are right after the president of the United States. If something happens to the president, the vice president is the first in line to take over.
The vice president also has a special role in the legislative branch. They serve as the president of the Senate. In this role, they lead meetings in the United States Senate. However, they can only vote if there is a tie.
People in the United States choose the vice president at the same time as the president. This happens every four years through a system called the Electoral College. Since 1967, if the vice president's job becomes empty, the president can choose a new one. Both houses of Congress then need to agree to this choice.
Today, the vice president's job is very important. They are a key part of the president's team. The person running for president usually picks their vice president candidate, called a running mate, before the election. While the vice president's exact duties can change, they often advise the president. They also help lead the government and represent the president. The vice president is also a member of the United States Cabinet and the United States National Security Council. This means they help make big decisions about the country and its safety.
The role of the vice president has changed a lot since it was created in 1787. For a long time, it was not seen as a very important job. But since the 1930s, its importance has grown a lot. Now, being vice president is often a step towards becoming president. Since the 1970s, the vice president has had an official home at Number One Observatory Circle.
The U.S. Constitution does not clearly say which part of the government the vice president belongs to. Some experts argue if it's the executive, legislative, both, or neither. Today, most people see the vice president as part of the executive branch. This is because presidents and Congress have given them more executive duties. Many vice presidents have worked in Congress before. They often help the president get new laws passed. JD Vance is the 50th and current vice president, starting on January 20, 2025.
Contents
How the Vice President's Job Developed
Creating the Role at the Constitutional Convention
The idea for a vice president came up late during the 1787 Constitutional Convention. At first, the delegates were only thinking about how to elect the president. They also decided that the Senate would choose its own leader. This leader would take over if the president couldn't do their job.
On September 4, a special committee suggested a new way to elect the president. They proposed the Electoral College. Each state would get a number of electors based on its total number of representatives and senators.
The people who wrote the Constitution knew that electors might prefer candidates from their own state. So, they created the vice president's job. They made electors vote for two people. At least one of these people had to be from a different state than the elector. They hoped this would make electors choose someone important from another state. The person who came in second place would become vice president.
The first election method was in Article II, Section 1, Clause 3. It said each state got electors equal to its total Senate and House members. Each elector voted for two people for president. They could not pick a first and second choice. The person with the most votes (if it was more than half) became president. The person with the next highest number of votes became vice president. If there was a tie, Congress would choose.
Early Vice Presidents and the Twelfth Amendment
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The first two vice presidents were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. They both became vice president by coming in second place in the presidential election. They often led Senate meetings and helped shape the role of the Senate president.
Political parties started to form in the 1790s. This was something the Constitution's writers did not expect. In the election of 1796, John Adams, a Federalist, won president. But his rival, Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, came in second and became vice president. This meant the president and vice president were from different parties. Jefferson used his position to go against Adams's plans.
Then, in the election of 1800, Jefferson and another Democratic-Republican, Aaron Burr, tied. The House of Representatives had to vote many times to pick a president. Jefferson finally won, and Burr became vice president. Because of these problems, the system was changed. The Twelfth Amendment was added. It made electors vote separately for president and vice president. This change was ready for the 1804 election.
The 19th and Early 20th Centuries
For a long time, the vice president's job was not seen as very important. John Adams, the first vice president, felt frustrated. He wrote that his job was "the most insignificant office." Thomas R. Marshall, who was vice president from 1913 to 1921, joked that "nothing was heard of either of them again."
Many people thought the job was not worth much. When Daniel Webster was asked to run for vice president, he said he didn't want to be "buried until I am really dead." It's interesting that the two presidents who offered him the job both died in office. If Webster had accepted, he would have become president. But at the time, being Secretary of State was seen as better preparation for the presidency.
In the first 100 years of the U.S., people suggested getting rid of the vice president's job seven times. They thought it was "superfluous" (unnecessary) and even dangerous.
Garret Hobart, who was vice president under William McKinley, was one of the few who had an important role. He was a close friend and adviser to the president. People called him "Assistant President." However, until 1919, vice presidents usually did not attend meetings of the President's Cabinet. President Woodrow Wilson changed this when he asked Thomas R. Marshall to lead Cabinet meetings while Wilson was in France. Later presidents like Warren G. Harding and Herbert Hoover also invited their vice presidents to meetings.
The Rise of the Modern Vice Presidency
In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt started inviting his vice president to Cabinet meetings again. Every president since has continued this practice. Roosevelt's first vice president, John Nance Garner, disagreed with him on some issues. On January 20, 1937, Garner was the first vice president to be sworn in on the Capitol steps with the president. This is a tradition that continues today. Before this, vice presidents were sworn in separately in the Senate.
In 1940, Roosevelt chose Henry A. Wallace as his running mate. He gave Wallace important jobs during World War II. But later, Wallace was replaced by Harry Truman. Truman was vice president for only 82 days. During this time, he was not told about many important plans, like the Manhattan Project (the secret project to build the atomic bomb). When Roosevelt died in 1945, Truman became president. He said, "I felt like the moon, the stars and all the planets fell on me."
Truman wanted to make sure future vice presidents were better informed. In 1949, he made the vice president a member of the United States National Security Council. This meant the vice president would attend Cabinet meetings and get regular security updates.
The importance of the vice presidency grew even more when Richard Nixon was vice president (1953–1961). President Dwight Eisenhower allowed Nixon to lead Cabinet meetings when Eisenhower was away or ill. Nixon also traveled the world, representing the U.S.
Until 1961, vice presidents had their offices on Capitol Hill. Lyndon B. Johnson was the first vice president to also get an office in the White House complex. This office is now called the "Ceremonial Office of the Vice President." President Jimmy Carter was the first to give his vice president, Walter Mondale, an office in the West Wing of the White House. All vice presidents since then have had an office there. This change happened because Carter wanted his vice president to be more involved in decisions.
Another reason the vice presidency became more important was the use of primary elections. These elections helped choose party candidates. This meant more skilled people who ran for president but didn't win might become vice president.
In the early 2000s, Dick Cheney (2001–2009) had a lot of power as vice president. He often made important policy decisions. This fast growth in power led some people to suggest getting rid of the vice presidency. However, others, like Joe Biden, said they would focus on being a key adviser to the president.
What the Vice President Does
When the vice president's job was created, it didn't have many duties. Only a few states had a similar position. For example, New York's lieutenant governor led the Senate and could vote to break ties. Over time, new laws and constitutional changes have added to the vice president's responsibilities.
Leading the Senate
Article I, Section 3, Clause 4 gives the vice president the title "President of the Senate." This means they lead Senate meetings. Their job is to keep order, let members speak, and explain the Senate's rules. They also have the power to cast a tie-breaking vote if there's a deadlock.
The number of tie-breaking votes has varied a lot. Vice President Kamala Harris holds the record with 33 votes. John C. Calhoun is second with 31 votes. Nine vice presidents, including Joe Biden, never cast a tie-breaking vote.
The Constitution knew the vice president might not always be there. So, the Senate can choose a president pro tempore (a temporary president). This person helps keep the legislative process running smoothly. Today, neither the vice president nor the president pro tempore usually leads Senate meetings. Other Senate members often do this. The vice president is not allowed to speak in Senate debates.
Leading Impeachment Trials
As president of the Senate, the vice president can lead most impeachment trials of federal officials. However, if the president of the United States is on trial, the chief justice of the United States must lead. This rule prevents the vice president from leading a trial that could make them president. No vice president has ever been impeached. So, it's not clear if a vice president could lead their own impeachment trial.
Counting Electoral Votes
The Twelfth Amendment says the vice president, as president of the Senate, receives the Electoral College votes. Then, in front of the Senate and House of Representatives, they open the sealed votes. The votes are counted during a joint session of Congress. This process is set by the Electoral Count Act and the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act. These laws make it clear that the vice president's role in counting votes is mostly ceremonial. The next time this will happen is after the 2028 presidential election, on January 6, 2029.
Four vice presidents have announced their own election as president: John Adams (1797), Thomas Jefferson (1801), Martin Van Buren (1837), and George H. W. Bush (1989). On the other hand, Richard Nixon (1961), Al Gore (2001), and Kamala Harris (2025) had to announce their opponent's victory.
Taking Over for the President
Article II, Section 1, Clause 6 says the vice president takes over the president's "powers and duties" if the president is removed, dies, resigns, or becomes unable to serve. But it wasn't clear if the vice president actually became president or just acted as president.
The people who wrote the Constitution meant for the vice president to temporarily use the president's powers. They didn't mean for them to become the actual president. This idea was first tested in 1841 when President William Henry Harrison died. His vice president, John Tyler, said he had become the president, not just acting president. He was sworn in and took on all presidential powers. Congress eventually agreed with him. This "Tyler Precedent" was made official by the Twenty-fifth Amendment in 1967.
Nine vice presidents have become president during a term. Besides Tyler, they include Millard Fillmore, Andrew Johnson, Chester A. Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Harry S. Truman, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Gerald Ford. Four of them (Roosevelt, Coolidge, Truman, and Lyndon B. Johnson) were later elected to their own full terms.
Four sitting vice presidents have been elected president: John Adams (1796), Thomas Jefferson (1800), Martin Van Buren (1836), and George H. W. Bush (1988). Also, two former vice presidents have won the presidency: Richard Nixon (1968) and Joe Biden (2020). In total, 15 vice presidents have become president.
Acting as President
Sections 3 and 4 of the Twenty-fifth Amendment deal with times when the president is temporarily unable to lead. This could be for surgery, serious illness, or injury. Section 3 is for when the president says they can't do their job. Section 4 is for when the vice president and most of the Cabinet say the president can't do their job. Section 4 has never been used. Section 3 has been used four times by three presidents. When it was used on November 19, 2021, Kamala Harris became the first woman in U.S. history to have presidential powers.
These sections were added because the original Constitution was unclear about a disabled president. It didn't say what "inability" meant or who decided it. Also, it didn't say if the vice president became president or just "acting president." In the past, presidents were sometimes very sick for weeks or months. But no vice president wanted to seem like they were taking over. After President Dwight D. Eisenhower openly discussed his health issues, Congress started to clear up these rules.
Modern Responsibilities
The vice president's power today comes from duties given to them by the president and Congress. These duties can be very important. For example, the vice president is a member of the National Security Council. The vice president's role depends on their relationship with the president. They often help write policies, speak for the government, advise the president, and represent the U.S.
Advising the President
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Most recent vice presidents have been important advisers to the president. Walter Mondale wanted to be a "general adviser" to President Jimmy Carter. Al Gore was a key adviser to President Bill Clinton on foreign policy and the environment. Dick Cheney was one of President George W. Bush's closest friends and advisers. Joe Biden asked President Barack Obama to let him be the "last person in the room" when big decisions were made. Later, as president, Biden did the same with his own vice president, Kamala Harris.
Working as a Governing Partner
Presidents have given recent vice presidents important areas to manage on their own. Joe Biden, who has been both vice president and president, said the presidency is "too big anymore for any one man or woman." Dick Cheney had a lot of power and often made policy decisions without the president's direct knowledge. Obama told Biden, "Joe, you do Iraq," giving him charge of that policy. In 2020, Donald Trump asked Mike Pence to lead the government's response to COVID-19. When Biden became president, he put Kamala Harris in charge of managing migration at the US–Mexico border.
Connecting with Congress
The vice president often helps the government work with Congress. This is especially true if the president has not worked in Congress much before. Vice presidents are often chosen because they have good relationships with lawmakers. Examples include Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, Walter Mondale, Dick Cheney, Joe Biden, and Mike Pence. Dick Cheney held weekly meetings with members of Congress. Joe Biden helped with budget talks. Mike Pence often met with Republican lawmakers. Kamala Harris led a Senate that was split 50-50, which gave her a key role in passing laws.
Representing the U.S. at Events
In the American system, the president is both the head of state and the head of government. This means the president has many ceremonial duties. Often, these duties are given to the vice president. The vice president might represent the president and the U.S. government at funerals in other countries. They also attend various events in the United States. This is often the most visible part of the vice president's job. The vice president may also meet with leaders from other countries. This happens when the government wants to show support but the president cannot go in person.
National Security Council Member
Since 1949, the vice president has legally been a member of the National Security Council. Harry Truman realized that a vice president needed to know about national security issues. This was because he was not told about war plans when he was vice president. Modern vice presidents are now included in the president's daily intelligence briefings. They also often join meetings in the Situation Room with the president.
How a Vice President is Chosen
Who Can Be Vice President?
To be vice president, a person must meet the same requirements as the president. These are listed in Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 and the Twelfth Amendment. So, to be vice president, someone must:
- be a natural-born U.S. citizen;
- be at least 35 years old;
- have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years.
There are also a few reasons someone might not be able to be vice president:
- If the Senate convicts someone in an impeachment trial, they can be stopped from holding federal office.
- The Twelfth Amendment says that if someone can't be president, they can't be vice president either.
- Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment says that if someone has sworn to support the Constitution but then rebelled against the U.S., they cannot hold federal office. Congress can remove this rule with a two-thirds vote.
Getting Nominated
The vice presidential candidates for the main political parties are officially chosen at their big meetings, called conventions. This happens after the presidential candidate is chosen. The official way of choosing is the same as for presidential candidates. Delegates suggest names, and then they vote. A candidate needs more than half the votes to win the party's nomination.
Today, the presidential candidate usually picks their running mate. Then, the convention agrees to this choice. Before 1940, this was rare. Only Andrew Jackson (1832) and Abraham Lincoln (1864) did it. Now, the vice presidential choice is often announced before the convention even starts.
Sometimes, the choice of vice president can be complicated. In 1956, Adlai Stevenson II let the Democratic convention choose his running mate. They picked Estes Kefauver over John F. Kennedy. In 1972, George McGovern picked Thomas Eagleton, but Eagleton later had to step down.
In 2008, Hillary Clinton suggested a "Clinton–Obama" ticket with Barack Obama as vice president. Obama refused, saying he was running for president, not vice president. He said he had won more states and delegates than Clinton. Later, when Obama was likely to be the nominee, former president Jimmy Carter warned against picking Clinton as vice president.
What Candidates Look For
The vice president does not need to have political experience. But most major party vice presidential candidates have been current or former senators or representatives. Some have been governors, high-ranking military officers, or held important jobs in the executive branch. Also, the vice presidential candidate has always been from a different state than the presidential candidate. This is because of a rule in the Twelfth Amendment. For example, before the 2000 election, both George W. Bush and Dick Cheney lived in Texas. To avoid problems, Cheney changed his official home to Wyoming.
Often, the presidential candidate picks a vice presidential candidate who will help balance the ticket. This might mean someone from a different part of the country or with different political views. They might also pick someone who has qualities the presidential candidate lacks. Or someone who is well-known. To unite the party, popular candidates who lost the presidential nomination are often considered.
Historically, the vice presidential candidate was often a less important politician. They were chosen to please a small group in the party or to win a key state. Factors like geography and political views were important. Candidates from states with many electoral votes were often preferred. A study found that vice presidential candidates helped their party win about 2.67% more votes in their home states.
The Election Process
The vice president is chosen by voters in each state and Washington, D.C. This happens through the Electoral College. This group of electors forms every four years to elect the president and vice president. Each state gets electors equal to its total number of senators and representatives. Washington, D.C. also gets electors.
Today, all states and D.C. choose their electors based on who wins the popular vote on Election Day. In most states, the ticket (president and vice president) that gets the most votes wins all of that state's electors. Only Maine and Nebraska divide their electors differently.
About six weeks after the election, the electors meet in their states. They vote for president and, on a separate ballot, for vice president. The results are then opened and counted during a joint meeting of Congress in early January. To win, a candidate needs more than half of the electoral votes for vice president (currently 270 out of 538). If no candidate gets a majority, the Senate chooses the vice president. Senators vote individually between the top two candidates. To win, a candidate needs more than half of the senators' votes (currently 51 out of 100).
This has only happened once for vice president. In 1837, no candidate got enough electoral votes in the 1836 election. The Senate then elected Richard M. Johnson as vice president.
Time in Office
Starting the Job
According to the Twentieth Amendment, the vice president's term starts at noon on January 20. This day is called Inauguration Day. The first time this happened was in 1937 for President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Vice President John Nance Garner. Before that, Inauguration Day was on March 4.
Also in 1937, the vice president's swearing-in ceremony began to happen on the Capitol steps, right before the president's. Before that, most vice presidents took their oath in the Senate chamber. The Constitution has specific words for the president's oath. But for the vice president, it only says they must take an oath to support the Constitution. The oath used since 1884 is:
I, (first name last name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.
How Long is a Term?
The vice president and president both serve four-year terms. The Twenty-Second Amendment limits a president to two terms. But there is no limit on how many times a person can be elected vice president. This means someone could be vice president for a very long time, even under different presidents. This has happened twice: George Clinton (1805–1812) served under both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. John C. Calhoun (1825–1832) served under John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.
Impeachment
Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution says that federal officials, including the vice president, can be removed from office for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors" (serious offenses). No vice president has ever been impeached.
When the Job is Empty
Before 1967, there was no rule for filling the vice president's job if it became empty during a term. If a vice president died, resigned, or became president, the job stayed empty until the next election. Between 1812 and 1965, the vice presidency was empty 16 times. This happened because seven vice presidents died, one resigned, and eight became president. For a total of 37 years, the U.S. had no vice president.
Section 2 of the Twenty-fifth Amendment changed this. It says that if the vice president's job is empty, the president can choose a new vice president. This person takes office after both houses of Congress agree. This has happened twice. First, in 1973, after Spiro Agnew resigned, President Richard Nixon chose Gerald Ford. Congress confirmed Ford. Ten months later, in 1974, Nixon resigned, and Ford became president. Ford then chose Nelson Rockefeller, and Congress confirmed him.
Without this new rule, the vice presidency would have stayed empty after Agnew resigned. If Nixon had then resigned, the Speaker of the House, Carl Albert, would have become acting president.
| No. | Period of vacancy | Cause of vacancy | Length | Vacancy filled by |
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| 1 | April 20, 1812 – March 4, 1813 |
Death of George Clinton | 318 days | Election of 1812 |
| 2 | November 23, 1814 – March 4, 1817 |
Death of Elbridge Gerry | 2 years, 101 days | Election of 1816 |
| 3 | December 28, 1832 – March 4, 1833 |
Resignation of John C. Calhoun | 66 days | Election of 1832 |
| 4 | April 4, 1841 – March 4, 1845 |
Accession of John Tyler as president | 3 years, 334 days | Election of 1844 |
| 5 | July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853 |
Accession of Millard Fillmore as president | 2 years, 238 days | Election of 1852 |
| 6 | April 18, 1853 – March 4, 1857 |
Death of William R. King | 3 years, 320 days | Election of 1856 |
| 7 | April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869 |
Accession of Andrew Johnson as president | 3 years, 323 days | Election of 1868 |
| 8 | November 22, 1875 – March 4, 1877 |
Death of Henry Wilson | 1 year, 102 days | Election of 1876 |
| 9 | September 19, 1881 – March 4, 1885 |
Accession of Chester A. Arthur as president | 3 years, 166 days | Election of 1884 |
| 10 | November 25, 1885 – March 4, 1889 |
Death of Thomas A. Hendricks | 3 years, 99 days | Election of 1888 |
| 11 | November 21, 1899 – March 4, 1901 |
Death of Garret Hobart | 1 year, 103 days | Election of 1900 |
| 12 | September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1905 |
Accession of Theodore Roosevelt as president | 3 years, 171 days | Election of 1904 |
| 13 | October 30, 1912 – March 4, 1913 |
Death of James S. Sherman | 125 days | Election of 1912 |
| 14 | August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1925 |
Accession of Calvin Coolidge as president | 1 year, 214 days | Election of 1924 |
| 15 | April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1949 |
Accession of Harry S. Truman as president | 3 years, 283 days | Election of 1948 |
| 16 | November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1965 |
Accession of Lyndon B. Johnson as president | 1 year, 59 days | Election of 1964 |
| 17 | October 10, 1973 – December 6, 1973 |
Resignation of Spiro Agnew | 57 days | Confirmation of successor |
| 18 | August 9, 1974 – December 19, 1974 |
Accession of Gerald Ford as president | 132 days | Confirmation of successor |
Life as Vice President
Salary and Benefits
In 2024, the vice president's salary is $284,600. However, due to a pay freeze, the amount they actually get is $235,100. The vice president does not automatically get a pension just for being vice president. Instead, they get the same pension as other members of Congress for their role as president of the Senate. To get a pension, the vice president must serve for at least two years.
Where the Vice President Lives
The official home of the vice president is Number One Observatory Circle. Congress made this the temporary official residence in 1974. Before this, vice presidents lived in their own homes, apartments, or hotels. They received money for housing, like Cabinet members.
The three-story house was built in 1893. It is on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. It was first the home for the Observatory's superintendent. In 1923, it became the home of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). Fifty years later, it was given to the vice president's office.
Travel and Transportation
For long-distance air travel, the vice president uses one of two special Boeing 757 airplanes. These planes are called Air Force Two when the vice president is on board. Any U.S. Air Force plane carrying the vice president is called "Air Force Two." For trips within the U.S., one plane is usually enough. For trips overseas, both planes are used, one as a backup.
For short-distance air travel, the vice president uses U.S. Marine Corps helicopters. These are called Marine Two when the vice president is on board. Often, several helicopters fly together. They frequently change positions to hide which one the vice president is actually in.
Staff and Protection
The vice president has a team of people who work for them in the Office of the Vice President of the United States. This office was created in 1939. The staff's salaries are paid by both the legislative and executive branches. This is because the vice president has roles in both branches.
The U.S. Secret Service protects the vice president and their family. This includes the vice president, their spouse, children, and other close family members. They are given special code names for security reasons.
Office Spaces
The vice president uses at least four different office spaces. These include an office in the West Wing of the White House. There's also a ceremonial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, where most of the vice president's staff works. They have the Vice President's Room in the Senate side of the United States Capitol for meetings with members of Congress. And they have an office at their official residence.
After Being Vice President
Since 1977, former presidents and vice presidents who are elected to the Senate can hold the honorary title of Deputy President pro tempore. So far, only Hubert Humphrey has held this title. Also, all former vice presidents get a portrait bust (a sculpture of their head and shoulders) in the Senate wing of the United States Capitol. This honors their service as president of the Senate. Dick Cheney is the most recent vice president to have a bust in the collection.
Former presidents get a fixed pension, no matter how long they served. But former vice presidents get their retirement money based on their role as president of the Senate. Also, since 2008, each former vice president and their family get Secret Service protection for up to six months after leaving office. They can also get temporary protection later if needed.
Timeline
Graphical timeline listing the vice presidents of the United States:
Images for kids
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John Adams, the first vice president of the United States
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Harry Truman was vice president for only three months before becoming president. He was not told about many important war plans. This led to changes in the vice president's role.
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Vice President Joe Biden meets with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office, 2011.
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Vice President Kamala Harris meets with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office, 2022.
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1888 illustration of John Tyler receiving the news of President William Henry Harrison's death.
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Geraldine Ferraro speaks at the 1984 Democratic National Convention after being chosen as the party's vice presidential nominee.
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Map of the United States showing the number of electoral votes for each state and Washington, D.C. for the 2024 and 2028 presidential elections. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win.
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Four vice presidents: (from left) outgoing president Lyndon B. Johnson, incoming president Richard Nixon, incoming vice president Spiro Agnew, and outgoing vice president Hubert Humphrey, January 20, 1969
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(Left to right) President Richard Nixon, First Lady Pat Nixon, Betty Ford and Representative Gerald Ford after President Nixon nominated Ford to be vice president, October 13, 1973
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Number One Observatory Circle, Washington D.C., the official residence of the vice president
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Air Force Two, the official vice presidential aircraft, carrying the vice president
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Vice President Kamala Harris, surrounded by members of her family and Secret Service
See also
In Spanish: Vicepresidente de los Estados Unidos para niños
