<Tr> <Th> Salary </Th> <Td> $230,700 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> WhiteHouse.gov </Td> </Tr> <P> The Vice President of the United States (informally referred to as VPOTUS, or Veep) is a constitutional officer in the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States as the President of the Senate under Article I, Section 3, Clause 4, of the United States Constitution, as well as the second highest executive branch officer, after the President of the United States . In accordance with the 25th Amendment, he is the highest - ranking official in the presidential line of succession, and is a statutory member of the National Security Council under the National Security Act of 1947 . </P> <P> As the Senate president, the vice president presides over its deliberations (or delegates this task to a member of the Senate), but is allowed to vote only when it is necessary to break a tie . While this vote - casting prerogative has been exercised chiefly on legislative issues, it has also been used to break ties on the election of Senate officers, as well as on the appointment of Senate committees . In this capacity, the vice president also presides over joint sessions of Congress . </P>

Why is the vice president called the president of the senate