Vice President of the United States

Vice President of the United States
Seal of the Vice President
Flag of the Vice President
Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination Incumbent Ian Bellinger since March 21, 2021
United States Senate Executive branch of the U.S. Government Office of the Vice President
Status	2nd highest in executive branch President of the Senate
Member of	Cabinet National Security Council National Space Council
Seat	Washington, D.C.
Appointer	Election for a new term by the Electoral College or United States Senate Nomination to fill a vacancy by the President of the United States with confirmation by Congress
Term length	Four months, no term limit
Constituting instrument	Constitution of the United States
First in-sim holder	Colorful_Future
Succession	First

The vice president of the United States is the second-highest officer in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government, after the president of the United States, and ranks first in the presidential line of succession. The vice president is also an officer in the legislative branch, as president of the Senate. In this capacity, the vice president is empowered to preside over Senate deliberations, but may not vote except to cast a tie-breaking vote. The vice president is indirectly elected together with the president to a four-year term of office by the people of the United States through the Electoral College.

The modern vice presidency is a position of significant power and is widely seen as an integral part of a president's administration. While the exact nature of the role varies in each administration, most modern vice presidents serve as a key presidential advisor, governing partner, and representative of the president. The vice president is also a statutory member of the National Security Council and thus plays a significant role in national security matters. As the vice president's role within the executive branch has expanded, the legislative branch role has contracted; for example, vice presidents now preside over the Senate only infrequently, although some recent Vice Presidents (most notably Cabin) have begun to reverse this trend.

The role of the vice presidency has changed dramatically since the office was created during the 1787 constitutional convention. Originally something of an afterthought, the vice presidency was considered an insignificant office for much of the nation's history, especially after the Twelfth Amendment meant that vice presidents were no longer the runners-up in the presidential election. The vice president's role began steadily growing in importance during the 1930s, with the Office of the Vice President being created in the executive branch in 1939, and has since grown much further, especially with the precedent set of presiding at all times set by a former vice president. Due to its increase in power and prestige, the vice presidency is now often considered to be a stepping stone to the presidency.

Ian Bellinger is the incumbent Vice President of the United States, who assumed office on March 21, 2021.