Is the office of Vice President part of the Executive Branch of the government?

Question

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Cheney_tells_agency_that_Vice_Presidents_0621.html

The Office of Vice President Dick Cheney told an agency within the National Archives that for purposes of securing classified information, the Vice President's office is not an 'entity within the executive branch' according to a letter released Thursday by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

"The Oversight Committee has learned that over the objections of the National Archives, you exempted the Office of the Vice President from the presidential executive order that establishes a uniform, government-wide system for safeguarding classified national security information," Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), the Committee's chairman, wrote in a letter to Cheney. "Your decision to exempt your office from the President's order is problematic because it could place national security secrets at risk. It is also hard to understand given the history of security breaches involving officials in your office."

Waxman noted that Cheney's office had declared itself not affected by an executive order amended by President George W. Bush in 2003 regarding classification and declassification of government materials.

"Your position was that your office 'does not believe it is included in the definition of 'agency' as set forth in the Order' and 'does not consider itself an 'entity within the executive branch' that comes into the possession of classified information,'" a National Archives official claims Cheney chief of staff David Addington wrote to him.

So, this means Dick Cheney is NOT protected by Executive Privilege, doesn't it?

Answer 1

I'm listening to Lou Dobbs' program on this subject right now. It seems to me that Cheney wants a Constitutional showdown, possibly in the Supreme Court, which might takes years to resolve, since there are few precedents in this area. How thoroughly does the Constitution define the office of Vice-President? It appears only in Article I, Section 3, and Article II, Sections 1 & 2. Okay, and in numerous Amendments, mostly on Presidential succession. Everything not expressly stated is a basis for appeal. With a co-conspirator like Scalia inside the Court, he might easily outlast his term in office.

Answer 2

It doesn't sound kosher to me.



A standing executive order, strengthened by President Bush in 2003, requires all agencies and "any other entity within the executive branch" to provide an annual accounting of their classification of documents. More than 80 agencies have collectively reported to the National Archives that they made 15.6 million decisions in 2004 to classify information, nearly double the number in 2001, but Cheney insists he is exempt.

Explaining why the vice president has withheld even a tally of his office's secrecy when offices such as the National Security Council routinely report theirs, a spokeswoman said Cheney is "not under any duty" to provide it.

Answer 3

The office of the Vice President is half-in and half-out of the Executive Branch. The Vice President is not an agency of the United States Government. He serves as the President of the Senate when Congress is in session and oversees voting. When there is a tie in the Senate, he casts the deciding vote.
For the past 59 years the VP is a permanent member of the National Security Council


Otherwise, the Veep is at best a presidential advisor. At worst, he could chuck it all in and play golf all day when not in Congress.

Most Veeps are actually inactive. Dick Cheney is pro-active. That is, he participates as fully as the law will allow, in the formation and execution of policy in the United States.

The office of the Vice President has largely been ceremonial throughout most of history, but resulted in the appointment of Andrew Johnson when Abreaham Lincoln was assassinated, Theodore Roosevelt when Pres. McKinley was assassinated, Harry Truman when Franklin Roosevelt died, Lyndon B. Johnson when Kennedy was assassinated and of course Gerald R. Ford when Nixon resigned.

In each of the foregoing examples, the Veep took on a wider role succeeding to the office of the Executive, e.g. President in times of national crisis. Though many criticised Andrew Johnson for the post-civil war reconstruction era and Lyndon B. Johnson for his management of the nation during the Vietnam war, the other presidents seem to enjoy some degree of historical success.

Most VP's since the Kennedy administration have participated in Cabinet meetings, a tradition that has risen and fallen depending on the style of administration developed at different political periods.

Roosevelt began his terms with a VP at his side in cabinet meetings, but by the time Harry Truman ended up as his VP, Truman knew nothing about the inner-workings of the presidency until he assumed office on Roosevelt's death.

Thomas R. Marshall, known as the 28th VP, is quoted as saying: "Once there were two brothers. One went away to sea; the other was elected vice president. And nothing was heard of either of them again." John Nance Gardner, under Roosevelt, argued that the office was "not worth a pitcher of warm p!ss".

So there you have it. The VEEP is half-in, half-out.

Answer 4

It is unbelievable how brazen and ridiculous Cheney can be when he wants things to go his way. I suppose Cheney sees his office as entirely outside the scope of constitutional definitions and restrictions and therefore independent. When he needs the protection of executive privilege, then his definitions will change.

Answer 5

Formation of a shadow government to insure that the transition to complete corporate ownership of America goes smoothly .

Do you recall reading about the company towns . You lived in the mill owned house you shopped at the mill owned store and you got your credit from the mill owned businesses .
Each week from your check they deducted all your expenses and if your pay did not cover it then you owed them interest on that money .
These towns had virtual slaves and the government forced this practice to end ,only today to they have brought it back under another name .The United States of America .
The shadow knows .

Answer 6

Unless my memory is failing, it is. They requested some information from the VP's office and now he wants to "abolish" the office that requested it? How about abolishing the office of this Vice President? He's probably working on another "secret" scheme before their time runs out.

Answer 7

LOL, Cheney's about to get probed.

Better lawyer up Veep, cuz you just said you aren't protected by Executive Privilege.

Answer 8

just wondering how often does Cheney get his anal probe. If he get somethng to hide, he should hide it in his asssss.

Answer 9

F**k yeah, they oughtta call his bluff on his shtt, and loudly!

Answer 10

Perhaps he is when it is convenient and not when it is inconvenient. Amazing how that works.