What makes a good vice president?

Answer 1

The criteria for a person to become Vice President was determined by the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The requirements include the person should be at least 35 years old, born in the United States, and be a United States citizen.

Answer 2

- Represents a different area to the President. For example, John Kennedy came from Massachussetts and he chose a Texan Senator Lyndon Johnson as his VP, to try and get Southern states to continue voting for the Democrats.

- Has experience in a different area to the President. For example, a president who aims to deal with foreign policy would do well to have a close aide who knows about the domestic agenda.

- Has an alternative image, but doesn't conflict with the President too much. Joe Biden had served in the Senate since 1972 before becoming Obama's running mate. Whereas Obama has a youthful image and campaigns for change, Biden is a long serving and well-established politician.

- Like the president must be a good speaker and have plenty of experience with the government in Washington DC.

- Should be clean, free of scandal or a personal life which attracts unwelcome attention.

- Could realistically replace the President if the worst were to ever happen.

Answer 3

The situation varies from year to year and from president to president, but the vice-president is usually someone who complements the president in some way. He may have experience and expertise in an area in which the President is weak. He may be popular in some part of the country where the President needs votes and is not strong himself. In years in which there is a fight for the nomination, the vice-president may be the loser in the race for nomination or the the favorite for a sector of the party that lost out in the nomination.

Answer 4

age, gender, geographic region, and ideology