User:LizArchive/Vice President of the United States

The Vice President of the United States or VPOTUS is the Second Highest Executive in the US, President of the United States Senate, and 2nd in the Line of Succession to President of the United States. The position was established on June 21, 1788 by the Constitution of the United States, and was first held by John Adams from 1789 to 1797 under Pres. George Washington. Beginning in the 1804 Presidential Election, because of the 12th Amendment, the Vice President was elected on the same ticket as the President.

The modern vice presidency is a position of significant power and is widely seen as an integral part of a president's administration. While the exact nature of the role varies in each administration, most modern vice presidents serve as a key presidential advisor, governing partner, and representative of the president. The vice president is also a statutory member of the National Security Council and thus plays a significant role in national security matters. As the vice president's role within the executive branch has expanded, the legislative branch role has contracted; for example, vice presidents now preside over the Senate only infrequently.