What Could/Should a VP Be, Constitutionally?
Earlier today, I offered the comment in a Facebook post:
Too bad Chris Christie can't be named VP, help Romney win, then resign, with Rob Portman being named Vice President so that Christie can return to be New Jersey's Governor--I mean, what is Christie going to do that's more valuable than being Governor after the ticket wins? Is there some way of Constitutionally giving enough "add-on" duties to the VP to make being VP, as opposed to running for VP, sufficiently valuable?
No one I've spoken, Tweeted, or written to seems to know the answer to this last question. I don't believe the President's Cabinet (or, at least some of its newer positions) are creations of the Constitution, so, for example, would it be Constitutional for a VP Rubio to be Secretary of State, or a VP Ryan or Daniels to lead the Office of Management and Budget? What's possible, both to entice the Ryans, Rubios, etc. to accept a nomination and be valuable if/when they win, and what "add-on" duties would suit the various people we keep talking about? Calling Profs. Epstein and Yoo and everyone else...
Bonus sub-question: in 2012, how much clout does being VP carry, as compared to simply being a "mere mortal" surrogate put into "heavy rotation"? In other words, does Sen. Rubio campaigning in Florida really have less pull than VP nominee Rubio?
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May '10
Re: What Could/Should a VP Be, Constitutionally?
How about Christie resigns and Romney appoints Dennis Prager VP?
Dec '10
Re: What Could/Should a VP Be, Constitutionally?
Arguably, Article 1 Section 6 (“…no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.”) bars the President of the Senate from serving in the executive or judicial branches.
Also, it's a bad idea to have the Vice President be a member of the executive branch in case the President is forced to resign or removed from office due to a scandal. In that case, you want the Vice President to have as much distance from the disgraced administration as possible.
Because of this, the only way to increase the power of the Vice President without a constitutional amendment would be to have the Senate give him more power in its rules. Unfortunately, because the Senate is in the hands of the opposition half the time, and because even senators of the same party regard the Vice President as a short-term interloper, this is unlikely to happen.
So I figure the best hope to give the Vice President any sort of official duties is an amendment to the Constitution.
Apr '11
Re: What Could/Should a VP Be, Constitutionally?
Maggie Somavilla
Rubio is very valuable where he is now, as part of a (dare we hope growing) group of conservative senators. He would be largely marginalized as Vice President. The idea of him simultaneously serving in a Cabinet position is tantalizing, though. · 3 hours ago
If you snatch senators to be cabinet officials, you want them to be Democrats who will be replaced by Republicans, or Republicans who will be replaced by better Republicans. Obama messed up his attempt with Gregg, but it's my hope that Mitt can do better. I can't see Rubio being replaced by someone better (who?)
Oct '10
Re: What Could/Should a VP Be, Constitutionally?
In the Philippines, there's this one VP who concurrently served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
Mar '11
Re: What Could/Should a VP Be, Constitutionally?
That is intresting, the President is also not allowed to have more than one office so he can recieve more than pay form more than one office. However, since he is the chief executive he can take a persons job description on himself.