Article 1, Section 3, Clauses 4 and 5


[Volume 2, Page 245]

Document 2

A Native of Virginia, Observations upon the Proposed Plan of Federal Government

1788Monroe Writings 1:361

The Vice-President has been introduced from the State Government of New York. This useful, though surely inoffensive officer, has been made by some objectors the bugbear of the Constitution. It is a strong proof of want of argument in the enemies to it, when they hold up this officer as dangerous. He is elected by the same persons as the President, and in the same manner. He presides in the Senate, but has no vote except when they are divided. This is the only power incident to his office whilst he continues Vice-President; and he is obviously introduced into the government to prevent the ill-consequences which might otherwise happen from the death or removal of the President. This is the purpose for which a similar officer has been introduced into the Constitution of New-York.


The Founders' Constitution
Volume 2, Article 1, Section 3, Clauses 4 and 5, Document 2
http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/a1_3_4-5s2.html
The University of Chicago Press

The Writings of James Monroe. Edited by Stanislaus Murray Hamilton. 7 vols. New York and London: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1898--1903.