Vice President of Tumbra

The vice president of Tumbra, officially the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Tumbra, is the deputy head of state of the Federal Republic of Tumbra. The Vice President typically acts in stead of the President when they are abroad, temporarily incapacitated or otherwise unable to exercise the duties and roles of President, and is first in line to succeed to the Presidency when the office is vacant. The Vice President also acts as the President of the Senate, and is empowered to preside over Senate debates, but cannot vote unless it is a tie-breaking vote. The office of Vice President is thus often uniquely political, more so than their main counterpart. The Vice President is elected along with the President on the same ticket for one non-renewable six-year term. Since March 3, 2020, the incumbent Vice President has been Thomas Carmichael of the Green Party.

History of the office
The Vice Presidency in the original Constitution, unlike the Presidency, largely kept the same responsibilities and functions as it does today. However, the Vice-President also had to be nonpartisan, there was no term limit and they were elected by a plurality, separate from the President

The first election for Vice President was considerably more contested than the one for President. Several candidates tossed their hats into the ring, including former State Counselor (equivalent to the post of Prime Minister under the Kingdom) Ralph Davidson, who had defected from the Kingdom and Governor Michael Turner of Alexandria were seen as the frontrunners. Ultimately, Davidson was elected with 40% of the vote, while Governor Michael Turner of Alexandria came a close second with 36% of the vote. Noted intellectual John Willock came third with 14%, and Governor John Crowley of Napier came fourth with 10%.

With President Hamilton focused on his military campaign, he delegated most of his duties to Vice President Davidson under strict instructions to not intefere with the running of government. While Davidson wished to partake in government, he begrudgingly agreed to follow the President's instruction, only really serving as President of the Senate and approving all legislation passed by the government. Rumours that Davidson was personally at odds with Hamilton on the functions of the office of President spread, however, and may have contributed to his defeat in the 1870 election.

The 1870 election saw a re-match of the 1864 election, with Davidson once again up against Turner. Turner defeated Davidson on his second try, though once again it was extremely close. Turner garnered 48% to Davidson's 46%. Former Foreign Minister Joseph Franklin came third as a write-in candidate with 6% of the vote. For the first time, parties endorsed presidential nominees - Turner was endorsed by the Centre-Agrarians, Labour, and the Progressives, while Davidson was endorsed by the Federalists, Liberals and the Unionists. Turner would act more closely in line to what Hamilton envisioned, and their close relationship while in office led to Hamilton endorsing Turner for the 1876 election. Turner also became the first Vice-President to cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate, and established that the office would serve as a neutral chairperson.

Turner ended up himself endorsing William Cohen, another Founding Father, for the Vice-Presidency, as reforms that the Hamilton-Turner administration were not passed in time for that year's presidential election. Cohen ended up being elected with 65% of the vote, a similar margin to that of Turner. With the removal of the nonpartisanship requirement, the first partisan Vice President ended up being Daniel Hayes, who ran with John Hildebrand in the 1882 election as the Federalist nominee for Vice President, though Hildebrand was also an independent. Despite this, Hayes (and all Vice Presidents since) adhered to the conventions set by Turner, allowing for the modern office of Vice President to, through consensus and convention, be formed.

Powers and Responsibilities
As outlined in the Federal Constitution, the Vice President assumes the office of President, if, for whatever reason, they are unable to execute the functions of their office. This has occurred twice in the history of the Federal Republic; once when President Robert Stephens passed away in 1921 and was succeeded by Vice President Arthur Meyrick; and once when President James Miles passed away in 1970 and was succeeded by Vice President Walter Hinchcliffe. Despite being constitutionally allowed to seek a full term in office, both declined.

The Vice President, similar to the President, may represent the country internationally, though key roles relating to the appointment of political appointees, etc. are solely reserved for the President. Similar to the President, while no constitutional proposition has existed that the role has to be nonpartisan since 1877, they are expected to not be an active member of their political party while in office.

As President of the Senate, the Vice President functions in a similar method to the Speaker of the House, in that their votes, by convention, adhere to LinkDenison's rule. They are not allowed to participate in debate; only to maintain order and decorum, recognise certain members to speak, and interpreting the rules of the Senate.

Other responsibilities may be accorded to the office based on the President's wishes.

Vice Presidential privileges and entitlements
While in office, the Vice President is immune from prosecution. The Vice President draws a salary of TM$280,000 annually and accorded two offices; one in Glamorgan Hall, Straton, which also serves as their residence; and one in the Houses of Parliament, owing to their capacity of President of the Senate. The Office of the President assists the Vice President in his duties as deputy head of State.

All methods of transportation made available to the President are also made available to the Vice President.

Election and Qualifications
Under the original Constitution, the Vice President was elected separately from the President in their own election in a single round, with the candidate getting a plurality of votes being elected. Similarly to the President, there was no term limit on the position. The raft of Constitutional amendments in 1877 removed the Vice-Presidential election, instead being elected on the same ticket as the President.

The office of the Vice-Presidency is open to all Tumbrans aged thirty and above who do not have a criminal record, and who are not currently serving in the Armed Forces. Prospective candidates must be able to garner at least 500 signatures supporting their candidacy for their nomination to be accepted. The Vice-President being elected on the same ticket as the President means that typically the Vice-President is a party nominee.

Succession
Should the office of Vice-President fall vacant due to their ascension to the Presidency, death, resignation, impeachment, or declared as incapacitated by either the Vice President themself or the Prime Minister and their Cabinet, the President pro tempore of the Senate takes on the role of acting Vice-President until the new President nominates a new Vice-President, typically within a month. This appointment has to be approved by the Senate, and is typically approved unanimously. The office of Vice President has fallen vacant thrice - twice when the incumbent Vice-President assumed the office of President, and once when Vice President Roy Monteith passed away in 1986. The President pro tempore at the time, Sen. Patrick Anderson, became Acting Vice President until the new Vice President, Sen. Elisabeth Norton, took office a month later.

Impeachment and Removal
It is not possible for the Vice President to be recalled or removed from office unless he is impeached by Parliament for breaking Tumbran law. Should the impeachment - requiring three-fifths of the members of either House to vote for it - proceed, the case will be referred to the Supreme Court of Tumbra, who has the power to remove the President from office.