Why did the office of Vice President become more important with the more responsibility as the twentieth century progressed?
One answer is that we became more aware of the possibilities that a president might die in office. The vice president should be ready to step in to the presidency on a moment's notice.
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The office of the Vice President of the United States became more important and gained more responsibilities throughout the twentieth century due to a combination of historical and political factors. To understand why this happened, let's break it down into several components:
1. Constitutional Framework: The role of the Vice President is defined in the United States Constitution, and while the Constitution does not provide an extensive list of specific duties for the Vice President, it does designate the Vice President as the first in line of succession to the President and as the President of the Senate, with the power to cast tie-breaking votes. These constitutional provisions have always given the office some level of importance and responsibility.
2. Changing Political Landscape: The political landscape and power dynamics in the United States underwent significant shifts throughout the twentieth century. The Vice Presidency evolved from being a symbolic and largely ceremonial role to becoming a more influential position within the executive branch. Political parties began to recognize the potential influence the Vice President could have in mobilizing voters, fundraising, and influencing policy.
3. Expanded Roles and Responsibilities: Over time, Vice Presidents started taking on expanded roles and responsibilities beyond just presiding over the Senate and being a stand-by successor to the President. This expansion was driven partly by the initiative of individual Vice Presidents who sought to be more involved in shaping policy and making their mark on the administration. For instance, Vice President Al Gore played a key role in environment and technology-related policy initiatives during the Clinton administration.
4. Increased Public Visibility: Another factor that contributed to the growing importance of the Vice Presidency was the increased prominence and visibility of the office in the media spotlight. Technological advancements, such as the growth of television and later the internet, allowed for more widespread coverage of political events and increased public awareness of the Vice President's activities and role in the administration.
5. The Office as a Springboard: In recent decades, the Vice Presidency has increasingly become seen as a potential stepping stone to the presidency. Several Vice Presidents, such as Richard Nixon, George H.W. Bush, and Joe Biden, have gone on to become Presidents. This recognition has further elevated the status of the Vice Presidency and increased the attention and expectations placed on the office.
So, in summary, the Vice Presidency gained more importance and responsibility throughout the twentieth century due to constitutional provisions, shifting political dynamics, expanded roles and responsibilities taken on by individual Vice Presidents, increased public visibility, and the office's status as a potential pathway to the presidency.