Vice President of the United States

The United States Constitution lays out the official powers and responsibilities of President, Vice President, Congress and Supreme Court.

Officially, the Vice President's primary responsibility is to preside over the United States Senate, and to sit in United States Cabinet.

In modern decades Presidents have delegated other duties to their vice presidents. Dick Cheney had so many other duties that he only chaired the Senate one afternoon per week.

If a President dies, in office, the Vice President is sworn in to replace them. Should both the President and Vice President should die, then the Speaker of the House replaces the President.

In early decades the President and Vice President were political rivals, not partners. The Presidential candidate with the second most votes was made Vice President.