The Vice Presidency: Its Institutional Evolution and Contemporary Status

Abstract

T HIS ESSAY SEEKS to trace the recent evolution and changing status of the Vice Presidency as an office in the American scheme of government. Special attention will be given to the experience since 1952. Taken as a whole, the experience suggests that the following propositions are a reasonable summary of the situation for the time being: 1. The Vice Presidency is in transition to a new institutional status in which it will be recognized as an office established predominantly in the Executive Branch, while retaining its constitutional prerogatives in the Legislative Branch. 2. Future Vice Presidents can be expected to serve routinely as deputy chiefs of state and deputy leaders of their national political party; to be available for service at any time as deputy to the President in the field of foreign affairs; to receive many ad hoc administrative and legislative assignments; to continue to accumulate a set of continuing functions in the Executive Branch; and to serve from time to time as Acting President under the Twenty-fifth Amendment. 3. The increasing recognition of the Vice Presidency reflects the hazards of the present world situation, in which the Vice President may be called upon at any time to take over as commander-in-chief, as well as the growing burdens on the time and strength of the President as chief executive, leader of his political party, and chief of state. 4. The functions, duties, and prerogatives of the Vice President as a member of the Executive Branch are not likely to be expanded except with the formal or informal concurrence of the President; but once such functions, duties., and prerogatives are in place, withdrawal through action by the President becomes more difficult than their initial establishment. 5. The Vice Presidency is rapidly achieving a status in which a typical incumbent will be the most likely next presidential