The Constitutional Convention created the office to solve several problems. The first problem would be who would succeed the president should he expire in office or become incapable of fulfilling the duties of the office. The way the election process was originally designed was that the second most qualified man wanted for the office would be the successor in case of death or incapacity of the candidate elected. However, the two party system and the shooting death of Alexander Hamilton indicated the need for a change in the electoral system.
It was assumed that in the case of a vice president assuming the office it would only be until a special election could be held. This procedure was not included in the written constitution and upon the death of William Henry Harrison, John Tyler assumed the office and fulfilled the term without calling for a special election. This precedent has been followed since as part of the law. Akhil Amar Reed recently wrote a book called The Unwritten Constitution which addresses assumptions that the founders made without including them in the written law. I just checked it ut from my local library. It is a companion volume to an earlier book that he wrote which was a biographical look at the United States Constitution.
The second issue that the office of vice president fulfilled was the question of leadership in the Senate. As the office has no assigned duties it was the perfect fit. If a senator had to serve as a presiding officer in this body it would essentially negate that senator's vote which would leave one state short of a vote. With the vice president as the presiding officer it not only gives the vice president a job but allows each state its equal representation in the upper house.
Now the constitutional issue for this office is the question, in which branch of the government does this office belong? It has legislative responsibility but is designated as successor in the executive. Looks like more reading....
Funny quip...those who forget history are doomed to reread it. Ha!
It was assumed that in the case of a vice president assuming the office it would only be until a special election could be held. This procedure was not included in the written constitution and upon the death of William Henry Harrison, John Tyler assumed the office and fulfilled the term without calling for a special election. This precedent has been followed since as part of the law. Akhil Amar Reed recently wrote a book called The Unwritten Constitution which addresses assumptions that the founders made without including them in the written law. I just checked it ut from my local library. It is a companion volume to an earlier book that he wrote which was a biographical look at the United States Constitution.
The second issue that the office of vice president fulfilled was the question of leadership in the Senate. As the office has no assigned duties it was the perfect fit. If a senator had to serve as a presiding officer in this body it would essentially negate that senator's vote which would leave one state short of a vote. With the vice president as the presiding officer it not only gives the vice president a job but allows each state its equal representation in the upper house.
Now the constitutional issue for this office is the question, in which branch of the government does this office belong? It has legislative responsibility but is designated as successor in the executive. Looks like more reading....
Just came across this! Hope you're well Mr. Mabry! I'm getting a masters in politics partly because you made me love social studies!!! -Pablo Hernandez Romero (NJH) '04
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