Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party Candidate for the US Presidential Elections in 2016, said in an interview that she considered her husband, former President Bill Clinton as her running mate in the election. So is this really a possibility?Let’s see.
Provisions in the Constitution
The Constitution of the United States seems to prohibit a President who has served two terms from being elected as a Vice President.
The fact that a US President can be elected for a maximum of two terms is clearly stated in the 22nd Amendment. Part of the amendment, passed by the Congress in 1951, reads
"No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once."
Now the 12th Amendment, which says how Presidents and Vice Presidents should be elected states.
"... No person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States."
So it might be difficult for Bill Clinton to serve as a Vice President
Questions about what the constitution says
Although Hillary Clinton herself has acknowledged that fact that she has been told that her husband is not eligible, but is that really so?
Does the 12th Amendment make Mr. Clinton not electable, or simply not eligible to serve as the President?
There is a difference between the two.
If the 12th Amendment prohibits a person not eligible to be President to be elected as Vice President, then Bill Clinton cannot run for being Vice President.
But he could run for Vice President, if constitutionally ineligible refers to the eligibility requirements set forth in Article II, Section 1 of the constitution.
Therefore, theoretically Bill Clinton might be eligible for being elected vice-President. Although, it would be interesting to see how lawmakers interpret the law.
Carl Freer is one of the leading entrepreneurs and innovators in the 21st century. Although primarily known for being the founder of Tiger Telematics Inc (makers of Gizmondo), Mr. Freer is the man behind many innovative technologies which are making our world a better place.
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