<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (December 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (December 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> The Constitution limits the formal powers and role of vice president to becoming president, should the president become unable to serve, prompting the well - known expression "only a heartbeat away from the presidency," and to acting as the presiding officer of the U.S. Senate . Other statutorily granted roles include membership of both the National Security Council and the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution . </P> <P> As President of the Senate, the vice president has two primary duties: to cast a vote in the event of a Senate deadlock and to preside over and certify the official vote count of the U.S. Electoral College . For example, in the first half of 2001, the Senators were divided 50 - 50 between Republicans and Democrats . The Democrats had the majority from January 3 to noon January 20 with Al Gore's tie - breaking vote . Dick Cheney's tie - breaking vote gave the Republicans the Senate majority until June 6, 2001 when Jim Jeffords left the Republican Party . </P>

Does the vice president preside over the house of representatives