# What does the Vice President \*do\*?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-vice-president-do/462059>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 4, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-vice-president-do/462059 "2008-09-04T21:35:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-vice-president-do/462059/21 "2008-09-06T03:44:44Z")

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> [@](#):
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> Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution specifically says that the President “shall from time to time recommend to their [the Congress’] consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient,” so this is definitely among the President’s enumerated responsibilities.

It’s an enumerated responsibility, but it’s not an enumerated power. I can recommend to Congress’s consideration such measures as I judge necessary and expedient, too. Heck, a fellow in Brisbane, Australia who’s never been within ten thousand miles of the US can make recommendations to the US congress, too.

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**Author:** ![CutterJohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@CutterJohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CutterJohn)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-vice-president-do/462059/22 "2008-09-06T06:41:26Z")

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The VP does what any second in command does. Helps out, organizes stuff, takes care of lighter weight stuff the boss doesn’t need to take care of, and taking over on days the boss calls in sick.

Lots of people deride the VP as being worthless, but thats an ignorant opinion, probably due to the lack of face time in front of the cameras when compared to the president. He’s still the second most powerful person in the US(unless you want to count the Chief Justice). Certainly moreso than any senator.

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