On that note, what would America do if Biden were re-elected and simply stepped down immediately?
I know republicans would attempt to block and/or complain about everything, but the reasonables- how would they react?
Assuming the Republicans still hold the House, they would ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS!
Sure, President Harris would still be a Democrat and control the Executive branch, but her new VP would be voted in by the House of Representatives. They’d try to put Trump in as VP. Having Trump (even as the junior in the Executive Branch) would give him access and power to spoil President Harris’s agenda.
Alternatively, again assuming Republicans keep the house, they could make Trump the Speaker of the House.
“The Constitution does not explicitly require the speaker to be an incumbent member of the House of Representatives, although every speaker thus far has been, and as a member the speaker also represents their district and retains the right to vote.” source
I hate these two possible scenarios of VP or Speaker.
On that note, what would America do if Biden were re-elected and simply stepped down immediately?
No no. House doesn’t get to nominate/choose the VP. Harris would choose a VP then the House would have to vote to approve them or not, like the Senate does with SCOTUS nominees. So the worst a Repub-controlled House could do (and they would) is prevent her from filling the VP slot at all.
That’s why: 1) very important Dems get the House back in this election. Biden may not hand it over immediately but it could happen at any time during the term. 2) It’s probably better to make her the nominee now so she can choose a VP to run with and avoid that issue.
I think a Trump VP is inconceivable - if it came down to that Harris would likely just continuously nominate random democrats and leave the position vacant.
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Assuming the Republicans still hold the House, they would ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS!
Sure, President Harris would still be a Democrat and control the Executive branch, but her new VP would be voted in by the House of Representatives. They’d try to put Trump in as VP. Having Trump (even as the junior in the Executive Branch) would give him access and power to spoil President Harris’s agenda.
“Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.” - source is The Constitution of the United States specifically the 25th Amendment
Alternatively, again assuming Republicans keep the house, they could make Trump the Speaker of the House.
“The Constitution does not explicitly require the speaker to be an incumbent member of the House of Representatives, although every speaker thus far has been, and as a member the speaker also represents their district and retains the right to vote.” source
I hate these two possible scenarios of VP or Speaker.
No no. House doesn’t get to nominate/choose the VP. Harris would choose a VP then the House would have to vote to approve them or not, like the Senate does with SCOTUS nominees. So the worst a Repub-controlled House could do (and they would) is prevent her from filling the VP slot at all.
That’s why: 1) very important Dems get the House back in this election. Biden may not hand it over immediately but it could happen at any time during the term. 2) It’s probably better to make her the nominee now so she can choose a VP to run with and avoid that issue.
I think a Trump VP is inconceivable - if it came down to that Harris would likely just continuously nominate random democrats and leave the position vacant.
At which point political assassination becomes a real concern as the next in line is Mike Johnson.
Realistically, if Biden were re-elected then Democrats would almost certainly win the handful of seats needed to control the House.
It would take Harris to Nominate him as vice, it would instead be a deadlock of never a vice, and whatever.
Or she could use the presidential immunity and make sure that Trump can’t be nominated in that position 🤷