U.S. Vice Presidents - Page 2

There have been 49 US vice presidents since the office came into existence in 1789. Originally, the vice president was the person who received the second most votes for president in the Electoral College. However, in the election of 1800 a tie in the electoral college between Thomas Jefferson & Aaron Burr led to the selection of the president by the House of Representatives. To prevent a repeat, the 12th Amendment was made to the Constitution, creating the current system where electors cast a separate ballot for the vice presidency. The VP is the first person in the presidential line of succession and assumes the presidency if the president dies, resigns, or is impeached and removed from office. In addition, the vice president serves as the president of the Senate and may choose to cast a tie-breaking vote on decisions made by the Senate. Vice presidents have exercised this latter power to varying extents over the years. How many do you know???