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There have been 47 Vice Presidents of the United States from John Adams to Joe Biden. Originally, the Vice President was the person who received the second most votes for President in the Electoral College. However, in the election of 1800 a tie in the electoral college between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr led to the selection of the President by the House of Representatives. To prevent such an event from happening again, the [[Twelfth Amendment to the of the United States (President of the Senate) | publisher = United States Senate | url = http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/The Vice President has few powers explicitly provided for in the constitution. His primary function is to succeed to the Presidency if that office becomes open due to the death, resignation or removal from office (via the impeachment process) of a sitting President. Nine Vice Presidents have ascended to the Presidency in this way. In addition, the Vice President serves as the President of the Senate and may choose to cast a tie-breaking vote on decisions made by the Senate. Vice Presidents have exercised this latter power to varying extents over the years.^[1] The Vice Presidency was described by former VP John Nance Garner in 1960 as "not worth a bucket of warm piss.^[2]

Prior to passage of the Twenty-fifth Amendment, a vacancy in the office of the Vice President could not be replaced until the next election. Such vacancies were common; sixteen occurred before the 25th Amendment was passed as a result of seven deaths, one resignation, and eight cases where the Vice President succeeded to the Presidency. This amendment allowed for a vacancy to be filled with appointment by the President and confirmation by both houses of Congress. Since its passage two Vice Presidents have been appointed through that process, Gerald Ford in 1973 and Nelson Rockefeller in 1974.^[1]

Vice Presidents have hailed from 21 states. More than half have come from only five states, New York (11), Indiana (5), Massachusetts (4), Kentucky (3), and Texas (3). Most Vice Presidents have been in their 50s or 60s and had political experience prior to assuming the office.^[1]

List

Parties

      Federalist       Democratic-Republican       Democratic       Whig       Republican

#	Image	Name	Home state	Took office	Left office	Party	President(s)	Ref
1		Adams, JohnJohn Adams	Massachusetts	01789-04-21 April 21, 1789[a]	01797-03-04 March 4, 1797	Federalist	Washington	[3]
2		Jefferson, ThomasThomas Jefferson	Virginia	01797-03-04 March 4, 1797	01801-03-04 March 4, 1801	Democratic-Republican	J. Adams	[4]
3		Burr, AaronAaron Burr	New York	01801-03-04 March 4, 1801	01805-03-04 March 4, 1805	Democratic-Republican	Jefferson	[5]
4		Clinton, GeorgeGeorge Clinton	New York	01805-03-04 March 4, 1805	01812-04-20 April 20, 1812[b]	Democratic-Republican	Jefferson/ Madison	[6]
		zVacant		01812-04-20 April 20, 1812	01813-03-04 March 4, 1813		Madison	[1]
5		Gerry, ElbridgeElbridge Gerry	Massachusetts	01813-03-04 March 4, 1813	01814-11-23 November 23, 1814[b]	Democratic-Republican	Madison	[7]
		zVacant		01814-11-23 November 23, 1814	01817-03-04 March 4, 1817		Madison	[1]
6		Tompkins, Daniel D.Daniel D. Tompkins	New York	01817-03-04 March 4, 1817	01825-03-04 March 4, 1825	Democratic-Republican	Monroe	[8]
7		Calhoun, John C.John C. Calhoun	South Carolina	01825-03-04 March 4, 1825	01832-12-28 December 28, 1832[c]	Democratic-Republican/ Democratic	J. Q. Adams/ Jackson	[9]
		zVacant		01832-12-28 December 28, 1832	01833-03-04 March 4, 1833		Jackson	[1]
8		Van Buren, MartinMartin Van Buren	New York	01833-03-04 March 4, 1833	01837-03-04 March 4, 1837	Democratic	Jackson	[10]
9		Johnson, Richard MentorRichard Mentor Johnson	Kentucky	01837-03-04 March 4, 1837	01841-03-04 March 4, 1841	Democratic	Van Buren	[11]
10		Tyler, JohnJohn Tyler	Virginia	01841-03-04 March 4, 1841	01841-04-04 April 4, 1841[d]	Whig	W. Harrison	[12]
		zVacant		01841-04-04 April 4, 1841	01845-03-04 March 4, 1845		Tyler	[1]
11		Dallas, George M.George M. Dallas	Pennsylvania	01845-03-04 March 4, 1845	01849-03-04 March 4, 1849	Democratic	Polk	[13]
12		Fillmore, MillardMillard Fillmore	New York	01849-03-04 March 4, 1849	01850-07-09 July 9, 1850[d]	Whig	Taylor	[14]
		zVacant		01850-07-09 July 9, 1850	01853-03-04 March 4, 1853		Fillmore	[1]
13		King, William R.William R. King	Alabama	01853-03-04 March 4, 1853[e]	01853-04-18 April 18, 1853[b]	Democratic	Pierce	[15]
		zVacant		01853-04-18 April 18, 1853	01857-03-04 March 4, 1857		Pierce	[1]
14		Breckinridge, John C.John C. Breckinridge	Kentucky	01857-03-04 March 4, 1857	01861-03-04 March 4, 1861	Democratic	Buchanan	[16]
15		Hamlin, HannibalHannibal Hamlin	Maine	01861-03-04 March 4, 1861	01865-03-04 March 4, 1865	Republican	Lincoln	[17]
16		Johnson, AndrewAndrew Johnson	Tennessee	01865-03-04 March 4, 1865	01865-04-15 April 15, 1865[d]	Democratic[f]	Lincoln	[18]
		zVacant		01865-04-15 April 15, 1865	01869-03-04 March 4, 1869		A. Johnson	[1]
17		Colfax, SchuylerSchuyler Colfax	Indiana	01869-03-04 March 4, 1869	01873-03-04 March 4, 1873	Republican	Grant	[19]
18		Wilson, HenryHenry Wilson	Massachusetts	01873-03-04 March 4, 1873	01875-11-22 November 22, 1875[b]	Republican	Grant	[20]
		zVacant		01875-11-22 November 22, 1875	01877-03-04 March 4, 1877		Grant	[1]
19		Wheeler, William A.William A. Wheeler	New York	01877-03-04 March 4, 1877	01881-03-04 March 4, 1881	Republican	Hayes	[21]
20		Arthur, Chester A.Chester A. Arthur	New York	01881-03-04 March 4, 1881	01881-09-19 September 19, 1881[d]	Republican	Garfield	[22]
		zVacant		01881-09-19 September 19, 1881	01885-03-04 March 4, 1885		Arthur	[1]
21		Hendricks, Thomas A.Thomas A. Hendricks	Indiana	01885-03-04 March 4, 1885	01885-11-25 November 25, 1885[b]	Democratic	Cleveland	[23]
		zVacant		01885-11-25 November 25, 1885	01889-03-04 March 4, 1889		Cleveland	[1]
22		Morton, Levi P.Levi P. Morton	New York	01889-03-04 March 4, 1889	01893-03-04 March 4, 1893	Republican	B. Harrison	[24]
23		Stevenson, Adlai E.Adlai E. Stevenson	Illinois	01893-03-04 March 4, 1893	01897-03-04 March 4, 1897	Democratic	Cleveland	[25]
24		Hobart, GarretGarret Hobart	New Jersey	01897-03-04 March 4, 1897	01899-11-21 November 21, 1899[b]	Republican	McKinley	[26]
		zVacant		01899-11-21 November 21, 1899	01901-03-04 March 4, 1901		McKinley	[1]
25		Roosevelt, TheodoreTheodore Roosevelt	New York	01901-03-04 March 4, 1901	01901-09-14 September 14, 1901[d]	Republican	McKinley	[27]
		zVacant		01901-09-14 September 14, 1901	01905-03-04 March 4, 1905		T. Roosevelt	[1]
26		Fairbanks, Charles W.Charles W. Fairbanks	Indiana	01905-03-04 March 4, 1905	01909-03-04 March 4, 1909	Republican	T. Roosevelt	[28]
27		Sherman, James S.James S. Sherman	New York	01909-03-04 March 4, 1909	01912-10-30 October 30, 1912[b]	Republican	Taft	[29]
		zVacant		01912-10-30 October 30, 1912	01913-03-04 March 4, 1913		Taft	[1]
28		Marshall, Thomas R.Thomas R. Marshall	Indiana	01913-03-04 March 4, 1913	01921-03-04 March 4, 1921	Democratic	Wilson	[30]
29		Coolidge, CalvinCalvin Coolidge	Massachusetts	01921-03-04 March 4, 1921	01923-08-02 August 2, 1923[d]	Republican	Harding	[31]
		zVacant		01923-08-02 August 2, 1923	01925-03-04 March 4, 1925		Coolidge	[1]
30		Dawes, Charles G.Charles G. Dawes	Illinois	01925-03-04 March 4, 1925	01929-03-04 March 4, 1929	Republican	Coolidge	[32]
31		Curtis, CharlesCharles Curtis	Kansas	01929-03-04 March 4, 1929	01933-03-04 March 4, 1933	Republican	Hoover	[33]
32		Garner, John NanceJohn Nance Garner	Texas	01933-03-04 March 4, 1933	01941-01-20 January 20, 1941	Democratic	F. Roosevelt	[34]
33		Wallace, Henry A.Henry A. Wallace	Iowa	01941-01-20 January 20, 1941	01945-01-20 January 20, 1945	Democratic	F. Roosevelt	[35]
34		Truman, HarryHarry Truman	Missouri	01945-01-20 January 20, 1945	01945-04-12 April 12, 1945[d]	Democratic	F. Roosevelt	[36]
		zVacant		01945-04-12 April 12, 1945	01949-01-20 January 20, 1949		Truman	[1]
35		Barkley, AlbenAlben Barkley	Kentucky	01949-01-20 January 20, 1949	01953-01-20 January 20, 1953	Democratic	Truman	[37]
36		Nixon, RichardRichard Nixon	California	01953-01-20 January 20, 1953	01961-01-20 January 20, 1961	Republican	Eisenhower	[38]
37		Johnson, LyndonLyndon Johnson	Texas	01961-01-20 January 20, 1961	01963-11-22 November 22, 1963[d]	Democratic	Kennedy	[39]
		zVacant		01963-11-22 November 22, 1963	01965-01-20 January 20, 1965		L. Johnson	[1]
38		Humphrey, HubertHubert Humphrey	Minnesota	01965-01-20 January 20, 1965	01969-01-20 January 20, 1969	Democratic	L. Johnson	[40]
39		Agnew, SpiroSpiro Agnew	Maryland	01969-01-20 January 20, 1969	01973-10-10 October 10, 1973[c]	Republican	Nixon	[41]
		zVacant		01973-10-10 October 10, 1973	01973-12-06 December 6, 1973[g]		Nixon	[1]
40		Ford, GeraldGerald Ford	Michigan	01973-12-06 December 6, 1973[g]	01974-08-09 August 9, 1974 [d]	Republican	Nixon	[42]
		zVacant		01974-08-09 August 9, 1974	01974-12-19 December 19, 1974[g]		Ford	[1]
41		Rockefeller, NelsonNelson Rockefeller	New York	01974-12-19 December 19, 1974[g]	01977-01-20 January 20, 1977	Republican	Ford	[43]
42		Mondale, WalterWalter Mondale	Minnesota	01977-01-20 January 20, 1977	01981-01-20 January 20, 1981	Democratic	Carter	[44]
43		Bush, George H. W.George H. W. Bush	Texas	01981-01-20 January 20, 1981[h]	01989-01-20 January 20, 1989	Republican	Reagan	[45]
44		Quayle, DanDan Quayle	Indiana	01989-01-20 January 20, 1989	01993-01-20 January 20, 1993	Republican	G. H. W. Bush	[46]
45		Gore, AlAl Gore	Tennessee	01993-01-20 January 20, 1993	02001-01-20 January 20, 2001	Democratic	Clinton	[47]
46		Cheney, DickDick Cheney	Wyoming[i]	02001-01-20 January 20, 2001[j]	02009-01-20 January 20, 2009	Republican	G. W. Bush	[48]
47		Biden, JoeJoe Biden	Delaware	02009-01-20 January 20, 2009	Incumbent	Democratic	Obama	[49]

Notes

^a  Arriving in New York City before President-elect George Washington, Adams was sworn as Vice President nine days before the President^[50]
b  Died in office
^c  Resigned from office
^d  Succeeded to the Presidency upon death or resignation of President
^e  The only Vice President to be sworn in outside of the United States of America (in Havana, Cuba), with special dispensation from Congress
^f  Elected on the National Union Party ticket with Republican Abraham Lincoln^[51]
g  Office of Vice President filled under provisions of 25th Amendment
^h  Invoked the presidential provision of the 25th Amendment on July 13, 1985, 11:28 a.m. until 7:22 p.m.^[52]
i  A resident of Texas at the time of his nomination for Vice President, Mr. Cheney changed his voter registration back to Wyoming, where he had served in Congress, to avoid violating the 12th Amendment, which would have prevented the Texas Presidential Electors from casting their electoral votes for both Bush and Cheney^[53]
j  Served under the acting-presidential provision of the 25th Amendment on two separate occasions: on June 29, 2002, from 7:09 a.m. to 9:24 a.m,^[54] and on July 21, 2007, from 7:16 a.m. to 9:21 a.m.^[55]

References

External links

• Official White House website for the Vice President
• Vice Presidents.com
• A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787-1825
• Amendment25.com
• AboutGovernmentStates.com

Vice Presidents of the United States John Adams · Thomas Jefferson · Aaron Burr · George Clinton · Elbridge Gerry · Daniel D. Tompkins · John C. Calhoun · Martin Van Buren · Richard Mentor Johnson · John Tyler · George M. Dallas · Millard Fillmore · William R. King · John C. Breckinridge · Hannibal Hamlin · Andrew Johnson · Schuyler Colfax · Henry Wilson · William A. Wheeler · Chester A. Arthur · Thomas A. Hendricks · Levi P. Morton · Adlai E. Stevenson I · Garret Hobart · Theodore Roosevelt · Charles W. Fairbanks · James S. Sherman · Thomas R. Marshall · Calvin Coolidge · Charles G. Dawes · Charles Curtis · John Nance Garner · Henry A. Wallace · Harry S. Truman · Alben W. Barkley · Richard Nixon · Lyndon B. Johnson · Hubert Humphrey · Spiro Agnew · Gerald Ford · Nelson Rockefeller · Walter Mondale · George H. W. Bush · Dan Quayle · Al Gore · Dick Cheney · Joe Biden