<P> The vice president is indirectly elected, together with the president, to a four - year term of office by the people of the United States through the Electoral College . The Office of the Vice President assists and organizes the vice president's official functions . </P> <P> The role of the vice presidency evolved during the 20th century into more of an executive branch position, and today the vice president is widely seen as an integral part of a president's administration, and presides over the Senate only infrequently . The Constitution does not expressly assign the office to any one branch, causing a dispute among scholars whether it belongs to the executive branch, the legislative branch, or both . The modern view of the vice president as a member of the executive branch is due in part to the assignment of executive duties to the vice president by either the president or Congress . </P> <P> Mike Pence of Indiana is the 48th and current vice president . He assumed office on January 20, 2017 . </P> <P> No mention of an office of vice president was made at the 1787 Constitutional Convention until near the end, when an 11 - member committee on "Leftover Business" proposed a method of electing the president and vice president, and recommended that the vice president succeed the executive in the event of a vacancy in that position, but would otherwise serve as the president of the Senate, casting a vote only to break a tie . Although delegates approved establishing the office, with both its executive and senatorial functions, not many understood the extent of the vice president's duties . Only a few states had an analogous position . Among those that did, New York's constitution provided that, "The lieutenant - governor shall, by virtue of his office, be president of the Senate, and, upon an equal division, have a casting voice in their decisions, but not vote on any other occasion ." </P>

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