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The '''Vice President of the United States of America''' is first in the [[order of succession]] to the [[President of the United States of America|Presidency]]. While his only duty spelled out in the [[Constitution of the United States|Constitution]] is to preside over the [[United States Senate|Senate]], he has taken on many other duties over time.

The '''Vice President of the United States of America''' is first in the [[order of succession]] to the [[President of the United States of America|presidency]]. While the only duty spelled out for the position in the [[Constitution of the United States|Constitution]] is to preside over the [[United States Senate|Senate]], other duties have been assumed over time.

==Incumbent==

==Incumbent==

The current Vice-President is [[Joseph Biden]], who took office on January 20, 2009, together with President [[Barack Obama]]. His predecessor was [[Richard Cheney]], who served under President [[George Bush]].

The current vice-president is [[Joseph Biden]], who took office on January 20, 2009, together with President [[Barack Obama]]. His predecessor was [[Richard Cheney]], who served under President [[George Bush]].

==Election==

==Election==

Currently, the Vice-President is elected together with the President, each [[Electoral College|elector]] voting for one man for President and another for Vice-President. This system was mandated by the [[Twelfth Amendment]], ratified in 1804.

Currently, the vice-president is elected together with the president, each [[Electoral College|elector]] voting for one man for president and another for vice-president. This system was mandated by the [[Twelfth Amendment]], ratified in 1804.

Previously, each elector had voted for two different people for President, and the runner-up had become Vice-President.  However, this system had broken down in the [[United States presidential election, 1800|election of 1800]], where [[Thomas Jefferson]], the [[Democratic-Republican]] Presidential candidate, had tied with [[Aaron Burr]], his running mate.

Previously, each elector had voted for two different people for president, and the runner-up had become vice-president.  However, this system broke down in the [[United States presidential election, 1800|election of 1800]], when [[Thomas Jefferson]], the [[Democratic-Republican]] Presidential candidate, tied with [[Aaron Burr]], his running mate.

==List of Vice Presidents==

==List of Vice-Presidents==

Vice Presidents have included some "remarkable individuals"<ref>[http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Vice_President.htm]</ref>:

Vice-presidents have included some "remarkable individuals"<ref>[http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Vice_President.htm]</ref>:

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

|1789-1797

|1789-1797

|[[Massachusetts]]

|[[Massachusetts]]

|Federalist<ref>While Washington was elected unanimously, by 1792, the two parties were running separate candidates for Vice-President.</ref>

|Federalist<ref>While Washington was elected unanimously, by 1792, the two parties were running separate candidates for vice-president.</ref>

|Washington

|Washington

|-

|-

|1797-1801

|1797-1801

|[[Virginia]]

|[[Virginia]]

|Democratic-Republican<ref>This was before the [[Twelfth Amendment]]; Jefferson was actually the losing candidate for President.  President Adams was a Federalist.</ref>

|Democratic-Republican<ref>This was before the [[Twelfth Amendment]]; Jefferson was actually the losing candidate for president.  President Adams was a Federalist.</ref>

|Adams

|Adams

|-

|-