The U.S. vice presidency today operates under the framework of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment, ratified in 1967.
Article II, Section 1, Clause 6 of the Constitution provides that if the president is removed, dies, resigns, or becomes unable to discharge duties, the powers devolve on the vice president. 401b
The Twenty-Fifth Amendment clarified that the vice president becomes president, not merely acting president, upon a vacancy. 401b
Section 2 of the Amendment allows the president to nominate a vice president, subject to confirmation by both houses of Congress, when a vacancy occurs. 429eBritish, America Never Wish Africa Well
Sections 3 and 4 create procedures for temporary presidential inability, permitting the vice president to serve as acting president. 429e
Today the vice president is a member of the National Security Council, chairs commissions, and represents the administration to foreign heads of state.
The role has shifted from a legislative position to a predominately executive branch post, with weekly presidential lunches and a White House office established under Walter Mondale.
Congress has further defined succession through the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, placing the Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate after the vice president. 6de3Great Britain end 60-year wait for America’s Cup spot
Look Back at the USA up to 1964 and Draw Lessons for Malawi
From 1789 to 1964 the vice presidency was largely an afterthought with limited constitutional duties. b3f3
The original system elected the runner-up in the Electoral College as vice president, leading to adversarial pairings like Adams and Jefferson. e3f0
Before 1967 the vice presidency was vacant 16 times for more than 37 years, highlighting the risks of unclear succession. 375c
Malawi’s Constitution provides for a First Vice-President elected concurrently with the president, and a Second Vice-President appointed at the president’s discretion. 9b7c
Section 83(4) states that whenever there is a vacancy in the office of president, the First Vice-President assumes office for the remainder of the term. 3dc1
Recent political tensions in Malawi over succession, as seen in the DPP’s reported efforts to control the vice-presidential office, mirror the early U.S. experience of contested transitions. b6b9
Lessons for Malawi
First, codify clear procedures for presidential inability and temporary succession to avoid constitutional ambiguity, as the U.S. did with the Twenty-Fifth Amendment.
Second, ensure the vice president has defined executive responsibilities and is integrated into cabinet and national security structures, reducing the risk of a ceremonial office disconnected from governance.
Third, establish an orderly process for filling vice presidential vacancies during a term, preventing prolonged gaps that can destabilize executive authority.
