United States Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance have welcomed their fourth child, a baby boy, Alec Neel Vance, a historic addition to the family, as they announced that mother and child are well. The couple announced on July 19, saying that both mother and child are healthy and well. The newborn is the fourth child of the family’s three older children, Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel.
The birth is significant because, for the first time in over 150 years, a sitting US vice president has welcomed a child while in office. The only such case is known to have happened during the tenure of Vice President Schuyler Colfax in 1870.
As congratulations poured in from all sides of the political spectrum, many Americans began asking an unusual constitutional question: Who will be acting vice president if JD Vance takes paternity leave?
Does the US have an Acting Vice President?
Unlike the presidency, the US Constitution does not set up a formal position known as an “acting vice president.” The vice president is still in office when travelling, recovering from illness or taking leave.
If JD Vance chooses to spend time with his newborn and temporarily deregulate his public schedule, he will still legally remain the vice president of the United States. His constitutional powers and responsibilities would not automatically transfer to another official.
Who does the Vice President's duties?
Many of the vice president's daily activities, meetings, diplomatic visits, ceremonial appearances, and political events can simply be postponed, delegated to administration officials, or handled by White House staff.
If the vice president is temporarily unavailable for a specific role, then the President can appoint other senior officials, Cabinet members or special envoys who can represent the administration at public events. However, these individuals are not “acting vice presidents.”
What happens if the Vice Presidency becomes vacant?
A vice president vacancy is determined by the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution. If a vice president resigns, dies, or is not able to serve in office permanently, the President appoints a replacement, who must be confirmed by a majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
This process was used when Gerald Ford became vice president in 1973 following Spiro Agnew’s resignation and again when Nelson Rockefeller replaced Ford after Ford became president.
Will JD Vance take formal paternity leave?
Vance will spend more time with his family after the birth and is not planning a leave of absence from office, he added, however. He is fully capable of fulfilling his constitutional duties as well as adjusting his schedule to support his wife and newborn son.
A Historic Family Milestone
Alec Neel Vance's birth is both a personal and historic moment for the vice president and his family. It also underscores that the senior US politicians are getting younger in the national political system, and so family events are now more visible. JD and Usha Vance are now expecting their fourth child, but Vance is still in charge of the vice presidency and all the responsibilities and duties.
