Vice President of Aumarea
| Vice President of the United Federation | |
|---|---|
Incumbent Vacant | |
| Office of the Vice President | |
| Style | Mr Vice President (informal) The Honourable (formal) |
| Type | Cabinet Minister Presiding Officer |
| Abbreviation | VPOTUF |
| Member of | Cabinet |
| Residence | Kosa Manor |
| Seat | Kosa Federal District |
| Nominator | President |
| Appointer | Electoral College |
| Term length | Four Years |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Aumarea |
| Precursor | Continental Vice-President |
| Formation | 3 March 2023 |
| Succession | First |
| Unofficial names | Senate President |
The Vice President of the United Federation of Aumarea (VPOTUF), sometimes the Vice President of the United Federation or the Vice President of Aumarea, is the second highest office in the executive branch of the federal government, after the President of the United Federation, and ranks first in the presidential line of succession. The vice president is also an officer in the legislative branch as the President of the Senate. In this capacity, the vice president is empowered to preside over Senate deliberations at any time, 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 Federation through the Electoral College. The vice president, with congressional confirmation, may also be appointed by the president during their term.
The 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.
History
The vice presidency was de facto established on 3 March 2023 but remained dormant until the constitution was ratified on 12 March 2023 de jure establishing the office. The Vice Presidency of the Continental Congress was used prior to the adoption of the constitution.
Constitutional Roles
Senate President
Article I, Section III, Clause 4 confers upon the vice president the title "President of the Senate", authorising the vice president to preside over Senate meetings. In this capacity, the vice president is responsible for maintaining order, recognising members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices, and precedent. With this position also comes the authority to cast a tie-breaking vote.
President of Impeachment Trials
In their capacity as president of the Senate, the vice president may preside over most impeachment trials of federal officers, although the Constitution does not specifically require it. However, whenever the President of the United Federation is on trial, the Constitution requires that the Chief Justice of the United Federation must preside. This stipulation was designed to avoid the possible conflict of interest in having the vice president preside over the trial for the removal of the one official standing between them and the presidency.
Presidential Successor
In the event of removal, resignation or death of the president, the vice president is first in line to the presidency. The vice president is sworn into the presidency immediately after the removal of the outgoing president by the senior-most judge available at the time of the outgoing president being removed from office.
Acting President
In the event of the president becoming unable of carrying out their duties as president for a defined amount of time they can delegate their powers to the vice president. In these situations, the vice president becomes the acting president until the actual president can reassume their duties.
Modern Roles
Presidential Advisor
Vice presidents are typically viewed as a key and senior advisor to the president. As they are the most senior officer in government after the president, they play an important role in the administration and so play a key role in advising the president.
Governing Partner
Vice presidents can be delegated authority by presidents to handle policy areas independently on behalf of the president and the administration. They are granted some level of sovereignty over that policy area and can report back to the president or cabinet with the work they have done in that area.
Congressional Liaison
The vice president is often an important liaison between the administration and Congress, especially in situations where the president has not previously served in Congress or served only briefly.
Representative
Under the Aumarean system, the president is both head of state and head of government and the ceremonial duties of the presidency are often delegated to the vice president. The vice president will on occasion represent the president and the UF government at events abroad, or at various events in the United States. This often is the most visible role of the vice president. The vice president may also meet with other heads of state at times when the administration wishes to demonstrate concern or support but cannot send the president personally.
Tenure
Inauguration
The vice president's term begins the same day as the president's and the vice-presidential swearing in ceremony happens just before the president's.
Unlike for the president's oath, there is no constitutional outline for the wording of the vice president's oath. The current form of the oath was introduced on 12 March 2023 and is as follows:
"I, (full name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United Federation against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."
Impeachment
The vice president may be removed from office by impeachment for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors". No vice president so far has ever been impeached.
Appointment
The vice president is elected alongside the President of Aumarea by the Electoral College. Typically they are the running-mate of the presidential candidate. However, the president may appoint a vice president during their term of office if the vice president should lose their office via death, resignation or impeachment, or should the president be elected without a vice president.