kids encyclopedia robot

Vice President of the United States facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Vice President of the United States
Flag of the Vice President of the United States.svg
Vice presidential flag
US Vice President Seal.svg
Vice presidential seal
VancePortrait (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
JD Vance

since January 20, 2025
  • United States Senate
  • Executive branch of the U.S. Government
  • Office of the Vice President of the United States
Style
Member of
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
(236 years ago)
 (1789-03-04)
First holder John Adams
Succession First
Salary $284,600 per annum

The vice president of the United States (often called VPOTUS or veep) is a very important leader in the U.S. federal government. This person is the second-highest official in the executive branch, right after the president of the United States. If something happens to the president, the vice president is 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. This means 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. This happens through the Electoral College. The vice president is elected for a four-year term. Since 1967, if the vice president's office becomes empty, the president can choose a new one. This choice must be approved by Congress.

Today, the vice president's job is very powerful. They are a key part of the president's team. The person running for president usually picks their vice president candidate. This person is called their running mate. While the job changes with each president, most vice presidents are important advisors. They also help 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 with important government and safety decisions.

The role of the vice president has changed a lot over time. It started in 1787 at the Constitutional Convention. At first, it was not seen as a very important job. But over the years, it grew in power. The Office of the Vice President was created in 1939. Since the 1970s, the vice president has had an official home. This home is at Number One Observatory Circle.

The Constitution does not clearly say which part of the government the vice president belongs to. Some experts debate if it's the executive, legislative, or both. Today, most people see the vice president as part of the executive branch. This is because presidents often give them executive duties. Many vice presidents have worked in Congress before. They often help the president with new laws. JD Vance is the 50th and current vice president. He started his term on January 20, 2025.

How the Vice President's Role Developed

Creating the Office

The idea for a vice president came late in the 1787 Constitutional Convention. A special committee suggested how to elect the president. They also decided the Senate would choose its own leader. This leader would take over if the president could not serve.

The framers of the Constitution thought electors would pick someone from their own state. So, they made the vice president's job. Electors had to vote for two people. At least one had to be from outside their state. This was to make sure a national leader was chosen. The person who came in second place would become vice president.

The original plan was in Article II, Section 1, Clause 3. Each state got electors based on its number of representatives and senators. Electors voted for two people for president. They could not pick a first or second choice. The person with the most votes became president. The person with the next most votes became vice president.

Early Vice Presidents and the Twelfth Amendment

John Adams 1800 to 1815 Portrait (4x5 cropped)
John Adams, the first vice president of the United States.

The first two vice presidents were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. They both became vice president by coming in second. They often led Senate meetings. But political parties soon changed things.

In the election of 1796, John Adams became president. But his rival, Thomas Jefferson, became vice president. They were from different parties. Jefferson used his role to challenge Adams's plans.

Then, in the election of 1800, Jefferson and Aaron Burr tied. Jefferson finally won the presidency after many votes. Burr became vice president. This showed the system needed fixing. So, the Twelfth Amendment was added. This amendment made electors vote separately for president and vice president. It was used starting in the 1804 election.

The Vice President's Role in the 19th and Early 20th Centuries

For a long time, the vice president's job was not seen as important. John Adams, the first vice president, felt his job was "insignificant." Thomas R. Marshall, a vice president from 1913 to 1921, joked that a vice president was rarely heard from again.

Some vice presidents, like Garret Hobart, were important advisors. Hobart was called "Assistant President." But until 1919, vice presidents usually did not attend Cabinet meetings. President Woodrow Wilson changed this by asking Thomas R. Marshall to lead meetings when Wilson was away. Later, President Warren G. Harding and President Herbert Hoover also invited their vice presidents to Cabinet meetings.

The Modern Vice Presidency

Harry S. Truman
Harry Truman became president after only three months as vice president. He was not told about important war plans. This led to changes in the office.

In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt started inviting the vice president to Cabinet meetings again. Every president since has continued this. Roosevelt's first vice president, John Nance Garner, disagreed with him on some issues.

Harry Truman became vice president in 1945. He was not told about important war plans, like the Manhattan Project. When Roosevelt died, Truman became president. He felt like "the moon, the stars and all the planets fell on me." Truman wanted future vice presidents to be better informed. So, in 1949, he made the vice president a member of the United States National Security Council. He also made sure they got regular security briefings.

The vice presidency grew even more important with Richard Nixon (1953–1961). President Dwight Eisenhower let Nixon lead Cabinet meetings when he was away. Nixon also traveled the world.

Before 1961, vice presidents had offices on Capitol Hill. Lyndon B. Johnson was the first vice president to also get an office in the Old Executive Office Building near the White House. President Jimmy Carter was the first to give his vice president, Walter Mondale, an office in the West Wing of the White House. This showed that Carter wanted his vice president to be deeply involved in decisions.

The way presidential candidates are chosen also helped the vice president's role grow. More primary elections meant more strong candidates. Sometimes, those who didn't win the top spot became good vice presidential choices.

By the 2000s, vice presidents like Dick Cheney had a lot of power. This led some to suggest changing the office. But others, like Joe Biden, believed the presidency was too big for one person.

Vice President's Constitutional Duties

The Constitution gives the vice president a few main duties. These duties have been clarified over time.

Leading the Senate

Article I, Section 3, Clause 4 calls the vice president the "President of the Senate." This means they lead Senate meetings. They make sure rules are followed and recognize who can speak. The vice president can also cast a tie-breaking vote if the Senate is evenly split. Kamala Harris has cast the most tie-breaking votes, with 33.

The Constitution also says the Senate can choose a president pro tempore. This person leads Senate meetings when the vice president is not there. Today, other senators often lead meetings instead of the vice president or president pro tempore. The vice president usually does not speak in Senate debates.

Leading Impeachment Trials

As president of the Senate, the vice president can lead most impeachment trials of federal officials. But if the president of the United States is on trial, the chief justice of the United States must lead. This is to avoid any unfairness. No vice president has ever been impeached.

Counting Electoral Votes

The Twelfth Amendment says the vice president receives the Electoral College votes. Then, in front of both the Senate and House of Representatives, they open the sealed votes. Congress then counts these votes. The vice president's role here is mostly to announce the results.

Four vice presidents have announced their own election as president. These include John Adams in 1797 and Thomas Jefferson in 1801. Four vice presidents have also announced their opponent's election. This includes Richard Nixon in 1961 and Kamala Harris in 2025.

Taking Over for the President

Tyler receives news
An 1888 drawing of John Tyler learning that President William Henry Harrison had died.

Article II, Section 1, Clause 6 says the vice president takes over the president's duties if the president is removed, dies, resigns, or cannot do their job. At first, it was not clear if the vice president became president or just acted as president.

This was first tested in 1841 when President William Henry Harrison died. His vice president, John Tyler, said he was now the president. He took the oath and acted as the full president. 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 their term. These include John Tyler, Theodore Roosevelt, and Harry S. Truman. Four of them were later elected to their own full terms.

Four sitting vice presidents have been elected president. These are John Adams (1796), Thomas Jefferson (1800), Martin Van Buren (1836), and George H. W. Bush (1988). Two former vice presidents have also 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 cannot lead. This might be due to surgery, illness, or injury. Section 3 is for when the president says they cannot lead. Section 4 is for when the vice president and Cabinet say the president cannot lead.

Section 3 has been used four times by three presidents. On November 19, 2021, Kamala Harris became the first woman in U.S. history to have presidential powers and duties. These sections were added to make it clear what happens if a president is unable to serve. Before, presidents might be very sick, but no one would take over.

Modern Roles of the Vice President

Today, the vice president's power comes from the president and Congress. The vice president has many duties. These include helping with policies, advising the president, and representing the U.S. government. The vice president's influence depends on their relationship with the president.

Presidential Advisor

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance walk along the Colonnade towards the Oval Office (54508186298)
Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump, 2025.

Most recent vice presidents have been important advisors to the president. Walter Mondale wanted to be a "general adviser" to President Carter. Al Gore advised President Bill Clinton on foreign policy and the environment. Dick Cheney was a very close advisor to President George W. Bush. Joe Biden asked President Barack Obama to let him be the "last person in the room" for big decisions. Later, as president, Biden did the same with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Governing Partner

Presidents have given recent vice presidents important tasks to handle on their own. Joe Biden has said the presidency is "too big anymore for any one man or woman." Dick Cheney often made policy decisions without the president's direct knowledge. Obama asked Biden to oversee policy in Iraq. In 2020, Donald Trump asked Mike Pence to lead the response to COVID-19. In 2021, President Biden put Kamala Harris in charge of issues at the U.S.–Mexico border.

Connecting with Congress

The vice president often helps the president work with Congress. This is especially true if the president has not served in Congress much. Vice presidents are often chosen because they have good relationships with lawmakers. Examples include Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, and Joe Biden. Dick Cheney held weekly meetings with members of Congress. Kamala Harris played a key role in passing laws when the Senate was evenly split.

Representing the Nation

The president is both the head of state and head of government. The vice president often handles the ceremonial duties of the head of state. The vice president might represent the president at funerals abroad or at events in the U.S. This is often the most visible part of their job. They also meet with leaders from other countries.

National Security Council Member

Since 1949, the vice president has been a member of the National Security Council. Harry Truman made this change. He realized that a vice president needed to know about important national security issues. Modern vice presidents are included in daily intelligence briefings. They also attend meetings in the Situation Room with the president.

How Vice Presidents Are Chosen

Who Can Be Vice President?

To be vice president, a person must meet the same rules as the president. They 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.

A person cannot be vice president if they have been removed from federal office by impeachment. Also, if someone has sworn an oath to support the Constitution and then rebelled against the U.S., they cannot serve. This rule was first aimed at supporters of the Confederacy. Congress can remove this disqualification with a two-thirds vote.

Nomination Process

GERALDINEFERRARO
Geraldine Ferraro speaks at the 1984 Democratic National Convention after being chosen as the party's vice presidential nominee.

The major political parties choose their vice presidential candidates at their conventions. This happens after the presidential candidate is chosen. The process is similar to choosing the presidential candidate.

Today, the presidential candidate usually picks their running mate. This choice is then approved by the convention. Before 1940, this was rare. In recent years, the vice presidential choice is often announced before the convention even starts.

Choosing a Running Mate

Vice presidential candidates do not need political experience. But most are current or former senators or representatives. Some are governors or high-ranking military officers. The vice presidential candidate must be from a different state than the presidential candidate. This is because of a rule in the Twelfth Amendment.

Often, the presidential candidate picks a vice president who balances the ticket. This might mean someone from a different region or with different political views. They might also pick someone who has qualities the presidential candidate lacks. Or someone who is well-known. Popular candidates who lost the presidential nomination are often considered. This helps unite the party.

Historically, vice presidential nominees were often less important politicians. They were chosen to please certain groups or win key states. A study from 2016 found that vice presidential candidates helped their ticket win about 2.67% more votes in their home states.

The Election Process

ElectoralCollege2028
Map of the United States showing the number of electoral votes for each state and the District of Columbia for the 2024 and 2028 presidential elections.

The vice president is elected by the Electoral College. This group of electors is formed every four years. Each state gets electors based on its total number of representatives and senators. The Twenty-third Amendment gives the District of Columbia electors too.

On Election Day, people vote for president and vice president. In almost all states, the ticket that wins the most popular votes in that state gets all of its electors. Maine and Nebraska are different. They give two electors to the statewide winner and one to the winner in each congressional district.

About six weeks after the election, the electors meet in their states. They vote for president and vice president separately. In early January, Congress counts these votes. A candidate needs a majority of electoral votes (currently 270 out of 538) to win. If no one gets a majority, the Senate chooses the vice president. Senators vote individually. They need a majority of senators (currently 51 out of 100) to win.

This has only happened once for vice president. In 1837, Richard M. Johnson was elected vice president by the Senate.

Time in Office

Starting the Term

Johnson, Nixon, Agnew, Humphrey cropped
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.

The vice president's term starts at noon on January 20. This is called Inauguration Day. The first terms to start on this date were in 1937. Before that, Inauguration Day was on March 4.

Since 1937, the vice president takes their oath of office on the Capitol steps. This happens right before the president's swearing-in. The Constitution has a specific oath for the president. But for the vice president, it only says they must swear 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.

Length of Term

The vice president serves for four years. There is no limit on how many times a person can be elected vice president. This means someone could serve under different presidents. This has happened twice. George Clinton served under two presidents. John C. Calhoun also served under two different presidents.

Impeachment

Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution allows federal officials, including the vice president, to be removed from office. This can happen for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." No vice president has ever been impeached.

When the Office is Empty

Mr. and Mrs. Ford and Nixon 13 Oct 1973
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.

Before 1967, there was no rule for filling an empty vice presidency. If the office became empty, it stayed empty until the next election. Between 1812 and 1965, the vice presidency was empty 16 times. This was due to deaths, one resignation, and eight times when the vice president became president.

Section 2 of the Twenty-fifth Amendment changed this. It says that if the vice president's office is empty, the president chooses a new vice president. This person takes office after being approved by both houses of Congress. This has happened twice. In 1973, Gerald Ford became vice president after Spiro Agnew resigned. In 1974, Nelson Rockefeller became vice president after Ford became president.

Vice presidential vacancies
No. Period of vacancy Cause of vacancy Length Vacancy filled by
01 April 20, 1812
  March 4, 1813
Death of George Clinton 318 days Election of 1812
02 November 23, 1814
  March 4, 1817
Death of Elbridge Gerry 2 years, 101 days Election of 1816
03 December 28, 1832
  March 4, 1833
Resignation of John C. Calhoun 66 days Election of 1832
04 April 4, 1841
  March 4, 1845
Accession of John Tyler as president 3 years, 334 days   Election of 1844
05 July 9, 1850
  March 4, 1853
Accession of Millard Fillmore as president 2 years, 238 days Election of 1852
06 April 18, 1853
  March 4, 1857
Death of William R. King 3 years, 320 days Election of 1856
07 April 15, 1865
  March 4, 1869
Accession of Andrew Johnson as president 3 years, 323 days Election of 1868
08 November 22, 1875
  March 4, 1877
Death of Henry Wilson 1 year, 102 days Election of 1876
09 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 Home

In 2024, the vice president's salary is $284,600. However, due to a pay freeze, the actual amount paid is $235,100. The vice president does not get a special pension just for being vice president. They get the same pension as other members of Congress. To get a pension, they must serve at least two years.

Since 1974, the vice president has an official home. It is called Number One Observatory Circle. It is in Washington, D.C.. Before this, vice presidents lived in their own homes or apartments. The mansion was built in 1893. It was first for the superintendent of the U.S. Naval Observatory. Then it was for the Chief of Naval Operations. In 1974, it became the vice president's home.

Travel and Security

USAF C-32A
Air Force Two, the official vice presidential aircraft.

For long trips, the vice president uses one of two special Boeing 757 airplanes. These are called Air Force Two when the vice president is on board. For shorter trips, the vice president uses U.S. Marine Corps helicopters. These are called Marine Two when the vice president is on board. Several helicopters often fly together for safety.

Kamala Harris and her family walk to the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue on January 20, 2021
Vice President Kamala Harris, surrounded by members of her family and Secret Service.

The U.S. Secret Service protects the vice president and their family. They use special code names for security reasons.

Office Spaces

The vice president uses several offices. They have an office in the West Wing of the White House. They also have a ceremonial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. This is where most of their staff works. They have an office in the United States Capitol for meetings with Congress members. They also have an office at their home.

After Being Vice President

Since 1977, former vice presidents who are elected to the Senate can be called Deputy President pro tempore. So far, only Hubert Humphrey has held this title. All former vice presidents also get a portrait bust in the Senate wing of the Capitol. This honors their service.

Unlike former presidents, former vice presidents get retirement pay based on their role as president of the Senate. Since 2008, former vice presidents and their families get Secret Service protection for up to six months after leaving office. They can also get temporary protection later if needed.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Vicepresidente de los Estados Unidos para niños

kids search engine
Vice President of the United States Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.