LETTER: The role of the VP

I have heard some people say, "The VP has done nothing to help me!" 

Well, the Vice President's role in government is limited. The Constitution spells out the role of the VP. 

The VP breaks a tie in the Senate and fills the Office of the President when the president is incapacitated, removed from office, or dies.   

The VP supervises the presentation of the Electoral College vote. The VP's job is to maintain order. The VP has no decision-making task about the validity of the Electoral College vote. 

Mostly, then, the job of the VP is ceremonial.  

The President may assign the VP to be his ambassador or advocate nationally or globally and may be asked to sit in on Cabinet meetings. These assignments are made by the President. 

The VP does not make policy decisions — that duty belongs to the President. The VP does not make the laws — that duty belongs to Congress. 

I hope this helps to clarify the role of the VP. 

Duane Pitts
Moses Lake, Wash. 

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