U. S. Government: Democracy In Action

"The Vice Presidency"

Introduction
In this chapter you learned about the office of the president or vice president, the Electoral College, the cabinet, and the various components of the Executive Office of the President. One person who historically has been overlooked and unappreciated is the vice president of the United States. In this activity, you will take a closer look at the roles and responsibilities of the vice president and read about notable vice presidents of the past.

Destination Title: The Vice Presidency

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Directions
Start at vicepresidents.com, a Web site dedicated to the vice presidency.

• Click on the left image, labeled Facts, which will take you to a page about the vice presidency. Click on each of the six topics on this page and read the material presented.
• Use the "back" arrow to return to the main screen, and click on the second image, labeled Biographies, to explore individual vice presidents.

After you have read through the information, answer the following questions.

1			Describe how the process of selecting the vice president was conducted prior to the passage of the Twelfth Amendment.
2			What are the two roles of the vice president as stated by the Constitution?
3			Which amendment ensures a legal and constitutional succession from vice president to president?
4			From the main screen, click on the third link on the left column to test your knowledge of vice presidential trivia. Take the 40-question quiz. How many did you get correct?
5			On a separate piece of paper, write a poem about one of the vice presidents you have read about or about the office of the vice president in general. You may use a formal poetic style, such as haiku or limerick, or a free verse style if you prefer.