Towards a new vice presidency? Reflections on the nort american case

Abstract

In the Presidential Regimes of Latin America, the institution of the Vice Presidency has been barely studied, unlike that of the United States. It only received some comments from authors such as Juan Linz, doubting its effectiveness and pointing out some of the issues surrounding its figure, like the criteria for nomination of candidates and conflicts with the Presidents. But Vice Presidency was practically not taken into account in the debate on presidencialism and parlamentarism, despite being the second place of importance in a presidential regime. With democracy back in the region, Vice Presidency has generated numerous political problems, but there virtually isn’t any academic debate on this. Severe tensions and conflicts between the President and Vice President, even Vice Presidents turned into opponent, are some of the problems observed. On the other hand, some Vice Presidents have taken, with varying success, the role of President be it because of the former’s death or because of political crisis that culminated with the resignation of the President. In the United States, historically, there has been a devalued image of Vice Presidency and similar problems observed in Latin America. But in the United States, Vice Presidency has been studied for some time and the institution has evolved through para-constitutional practices. Now, Vice Presidency is an important part of the institutional system and it is located in the orbit of the Executive Branch. It has earned tasks, new roles and influence, beyond the persistence of the images that do little in its favor. Due to this para-constitutional evolution, it is to be expected, from a Vice President, his participation in the Presidential Cabinet, his «lobbying» in the Senate, the representation of the President in foreign countries, the role of presidential adviser and the development of important tasks that the president might command to him. And the Vice President can expect, as well, a good position in the future, even presidential succession. This is how it has been pointed out that it constitutes a field of experience and preparation for the maximum institutional position: towards the last of the 20th Century, thirteen out of the forty North American Presidents served in Vice Presidency. To summarize, this study provides a focused analysis on Vice Presidency, and deals with some of the problems that it has brought upon Latin American countries. Then, an analysis of the North American experience and the evolution of the institution in this country, is formulated. The analysis of the North American case results useful to initiate a debate on Vice Presidency in the region, to explore a necessary research agenda and as one of the possible alternatives at the time of its reform.