Chapter 8, Student Web Activity, U.S. Government, Texas Edition, Glencoe, 2003

Social Studies, U.S. Government, Texas Edition

Chapter 8: The Presidency
"The Vice Presidency"

Introduction
In this chapter you learned about the office of the president or vice president, the Electoral College, the cabinet, and the various components of the Executive Office of the President. One person who historically has been overlooked and unappreciated is the vice president of the United States. In this activity, you will take a closer look at the roles and responsibilities of the vice president and read about notable vice presidents of the past.

Destination Title: The Vice Presidency

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Directions
Start at Centre College's Web site about the vice presidency.

Click on the first image, which will take you to a page about the vice presidency. Click on each of the three topics on this page and read the material presented.
Use the "back" arrow to return to the main screen, and click on the second image, labeled Biographies, to explore individual vice presidents.

After you have read through the information, answer the following questions.

1. Describe how the process of selecting the vice president has changed since our government was founded.

2. What are the two roles of the vice president as stated by the Constitution?

3. Which amendment ensures a legal and constitutional succession from vice president to president?

4. From the main screen, click on the fourth image to test your knowledge of vice presidential trivia. Take the 20-question quiz. How many did you get correct?

5. On a separate piece of paper, write a poem about one of the vice presidents you have read about or about the office of the vice president in general. You may use a formal poetic style, such as haiku or limerick, or a free verse style if you prefer.