Second in Command

Nyhet

Reevaluating the Role of Vice Presidents and Running Mates in Modern American Politics

Häftad, Engelska, 2026

AvKarine Prémont,Christopher J. Devine,Karine Premont

799 kr

Kommande

In recent years, the office of the vice president has become a focal point of presidential politics and governance. From the emergence of the modern vice presidency under Walter Mondale to Mike Pence’s and Kamala Harris’s dramatic influence on the outcome of the 2020 election, Second in Command explores how vice presidents and vice-presidential candidates have shaped the direction of the country and changed American politics. The frenzy of speculation surrounding the “veepstakes” every four years and extensive media coverage of the vice-presidential debate may seem odd, given the vice presidency’s limited constitutional powers and dismal public reputation. Dispelling the myth that the vice presidency is a powerless or merely ceremonial role, Second in Command draws on the multidisciplinary expertise of more than a dozen leading vice-presidential scholars to reveal the complex, consequential, and often misunderstood nature of the office. With accessible language and vivid examples, it traces the transformation of vice-presidential power over the past half-century, reveals the evolving electoral significance of vice-presidential running mates, and highlights the need for a deeper public understanding of these pivotal figures. Chapters employ a range of qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including elite interviews, archival research, case studies, and advanced statistical modeling to cover topics such as gender and media effects in running mate selection and the representation of vice presidents in popular culture. This book offers a fresh, engaging, and essential perspective on a vital institution at the heart of American democracy.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2026-04-13
Mått152 x 229 x undefined mm
FormatHäftad
SpråkEngelska
Antal sidor348
FörlagThe University of Michigan Press
ISBN9780472058099

Tillhör följande kategorier

List of FiguresList of TablesList of Abbreviations AcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Situating the Vice Presidency in Presidency StudiesMeena BosePart I – The Vice PresidentsKarine Prémont1. From Troubleshooters to Partners (and Back): The Importance of Partnerships Between Presidents and Vice Presidents, from Walter Mondale to Kamala HarrisKarine Prémont 2. Our (Wo)Man on Capitol Hill: The Vice President as the White House’s Congressional LiaisonChristophe Cloutier-Roy3. Last Person in the Room: Vice Presidential Influence on National Security Decision MakingRichard M. Yon, Jason Galui, Christian Dionisio, and Joseph G. Amoroso4. The Vice Presidency and the Checks and BalancesRoy R. Brownell II5. VPs “Don’t Get No Respect”: Political Humor and Vice-Presidential CaricaturesJody C Baumgartner6. Assessing VPOTUS: Elite Opinion and the Modern Vice PresidencyBrandon Rottinghaus and Justin VaughnPart II – The CandidatesChristopher J. Devine7. The Modern Veepstakes: New Pressures to Vet More Seasoned Running MatesWhitney L. Court8. Balancing a “Hockey Mom” with “Broad-Shouldered Leadership”: Campaign Communication and Gendered Ticket DynamicsLindsey Meeks9. “Never Fear, the Vice-Presidential Attack Dog is Here”: A Short History of the Running Mate Campaign Style, 1976-2008Charles J. Holden10. The Spotlight Fades: The Declining Electoral Impact of Modern Vice-Presidential CandidatesStacy G. Ulbig11. The Most Important VP Choice Since… When? Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, and the 2020 (Vice) Presidential ElectionChristopher J. Devine and Kyle C. Kopko12. Vice Presidents-Elect during the Transfer of Power, 1976-2008Heath BrownConclusion: From Second in Command to Commander in ChiefKarine Prémont and Christopher J. DevineList of Contributors