In our current Government, we have established a system of checks and balances where some people have many duties and some have very few. Whether or not you believe this system is working or not, it obviously is to some degree, because our country is not just surviving, it is thriving. However I believe that some people have so few duties, it would be good for them to take some of the load off of others who seem to be carrying the world on their shoulders. I am referring, in this case, to the President and the Vice President.
"Among the salient characteristics of the American presidency is that it has usually played a role in American life that extends well beyond the formal responsibilities of the office. Almost all presidents-whatever they have or have not achieved-have occupied positions of enormous symbolic and cultural importance in American life. They have become the secular icons of the republic- emblems of nationhood and embodiments of the values that Americans have claimed to cherish." (Brinkley, Dyer)
The President has many roles in our country. He serves as Chief of State, Chief Executive, Chief Administrator, Chief Diplomat, Commander in Chief, Chief Legislator, Chief of Party, and Chief Citizen. To explain a few, Chief of Party means that he is the acknowledged leader of the political party in control of the executive branch. As Chief Citizen, he is the representative of all the people in the United States. Of all his jobs as President, I believe that one of his most important roles is Chief Executive.
"The president is the chief executive of the United States, putting him at the head of the executive branch of the government, whose responsibility is to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed". To carry out this duty, he is given control of the four million employees of the vast executive branch, including one million active duty personnel in the military. Both the legislative and judicial branches maintain checks and balances on the powers of the president, and vice versa."(Wikipedia)
The Vice President holds two jobs. He is the head of the Senate and he is first in line to take over if the President is unable to fulfill his duties (25th Amendment). There have been many jokes made about how little the Vice President has to do. Theodore Roosevelt, who had come to the White House after the Vice Presidency, had an annoying chandelier in the Oval Office. It made such a loud tinkling noise that he had it taken to the Vice President's office, where it still is today, saying, "He doesn't have anything to do, it will keep him awake."(McClenaghan 373)
"The informal roles and functions of the Vice President depend on the specific relationship between the President and the Vice President, but often include drafter and spokesperson for the administration's policy, as an adviser to the president, as Chairman of the Board of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), as a Member of the board of the Smithsonian Institution, and as a symbol of American concern or support. Their influence in this role depends almost entirely on the characteristics of the particular administration. Cheney, for instance, is widely regarded as one of George W. Bush's closest confidantes. Al Gore was an important adviser to President Bill Clinton on matters of foreign policy and the environment." (Wikipedia) To this day, the role of Vice President has not changed. Considering how our County is thriving so far, it may not be necessary. It may be helpful, but it is also good that the Vice President has so few jobs, because then the President can receive help from him without the Vice President being swamped with work. The Vice President is there just waiting for a job, and that is how our country has been working since John Adams and George Washington.
Sources
Brinkley, Alan/ Dyer, Davis. The American Presidency. Boston/New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004
McClenaghan, William A. "American Government." Needham, Massachusetts: Prentice Hall, 1989.
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