The Unexpected Drama of the 2020 Election Role of America's Second-in-Command

 

Imagine a role that's part 

• Constitutional guardian, 

• Part political ninja, and 

• Part potential presidential understudy 

Welcome to the wild world of the United States Vice Presidency! It's like being the backup quarterback of American democracy–always warmed up and prepared to take the field.

After the 2020 election, we all saw the chaos and the “confusion” of the process regarding Certification of the election. Let’s clarify. 

VP’s Role in Election Certification

The Vice President has a crucial but largely ceremonial role in the certification of presidential election results:

1. Presiding Over the Count: As President of the Senate, the Vice President presides over the joint session of Congress where electoral votes are counted

2. Opening Electoral Votes: The Vice President receives the Electoral College votes and opens the sealed certificates from each state

3. Announcing Results: After all votes are counted, the Vice President declares which persons have been elected President and Vice President

4. No Decision-Making Power: The Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 clarified that the Vice President's role is purely ceremonial and they have no power to determine or change the election outcome 

During the election campaigns, the role of the VP is often overstated, and most of us don’t know exactly what a VP does, and the limitation of their roles. 

VP’s Role After Taking Office

Once in office, the Vice President has several important responsibilities:

1. Presidential Succession: The primary duty is to be ready to assume the presidency if the President is unable to perform their duties

2. President of the Senate: The Vice President serves as the President of the Senate, though this role is largely ceremonial in modern times

3. Tie-Breaking Votes: In the Senate, the Vice President can cast a tie-breaking vote when needed

4. Advisory Role: Modern Vice Presidents often serve as key advisors to the President

5. Acting President: Under certain circumstances outlined in the 25th Amendment, the Vice President may temporarily assume presidential powers as Acting President

6. Nomination of New Vice President: In case of a vacancy in the Vice Presidency, the President nominates a new Vice President, who must be confirmed by both houses of Congress

Think of the Vice President as democracy's ultimate insurance policy: 

• Always present

• Occasionally dramatic, and 

• Absolutely essential

In the grand theater of American politics, they're not just understudies - they're potential leading actors waiting in the wings, ready to step up when history calls.