The Vice President of the United States is a position of public office that is created and upheld by the United States Constitution. The Vice President is indirectly elected through the Electoral College. Along with the President, the Vice President is elected to serve a four year term and is essentially next in line to take the presidential role in the case of resignation, death or removal of the current president. The roles of the Vice President are tightly restricted by the constitution. So what does the Vice President do? Read this article to find out.
What does the Vice President do?
The Vice President has two primary roles. The first role that the Vice President has is to step into the presidency if the current President is unable to complete his term of office. This occurs only in special cases such as death, resignation, medical impairment or removal of the president.
The second role that the Vice President has is to preside over the U.S Senate. In this role the Vice President has the duties of casting a vote to end a deadlock in the senate and certifying the vote count from the Electoral College. By casting a vote the Vice President can give the majority to a particular political house in the senate allowing bills to pass. The Vice President is given no other responsibilities by the constitution in the senate. They are not permitted to be part of senate debate or address the senate. Vice Presidents are solely responsible for procedural matters within the senate and in modern times they are usually not part of the day to day running of the senate. A President pro tempore (or “president for a time”) is usually elected by the senate to perform any Vice Presidential duties in their absence.
During a presidential election year the Vice President, as the president of the senate, is called on to certify and officiate the counting of the votes done by the Electoral College. The results of these votes are read out on January 6th in the presence of both houses of congress. It is at this time that the new President of the United States is announced to the Congress.
Other informal roles are given to the Vice President based on their relationship with the President. Many presidents seek the advice of their Vice President on various issues. Often Vice Presidents are sent to state and international events when the president has other engagements. Vice Presidents are often the spokesperson on the administration policies and party lines.
Did you know?
Only four US Vice Presidents have announced their own election as President, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Van Buren, and George H. W. Bush. Most have had to announce the election of their opponent to the position.
Many of us have had the experience of sucking helium from a balloon or witnessing someone else perform this act. We know that when this happens it changes the sound of our voice to produce a high, squeaky, chipmunk type sound. This effect is only temporary and lasts for a few seconds and then more helium must be breathed in to produce the effect again. Why does helium change our voice to produce high pitched sounds? Read this article to find out.
How Do We Make Different Sounds?
To understand why helium changes our voices, we first must understand how we produce sound to begin with. Each of us has a set of vocal chords inside our throats. Sound is made by pushing air from our lungs through our vocal chords in the throat. These cords open and close hundreds of times a second producing a series of little puffs of air which end up in your mouth. The momentum of the air carries it out of your mouth. This causes the air pressure in your mouth to be lower than that outside of the mouth. This means that the air will then be sucked back in. When you are making sound your vocal chords make a number of different frequencies. The one that is heard the most is the one that is the same as the resonant frequency made by the air entering and leaving your mouth. The resonant frequency depends on the shape of your mouth.
How Does Helium Change The Sound Of Your Voice?
So how does breathing helium change our voice? Well, when you breathe helium it changes the momentum of the air in and out of your mouth. Helium is much lighter than air making it move much faster. The inhalation of helium increases the resonant frequency of your mouth meaning that the higher frequency sounds will be amplified more than they would in normal air. This means that people listening to your will more clearly hear the higher frequencies produced by your vocal cords making you sound squeaky. The lower frequencies are still there, but are quieter and more difficult to discern over the amplified higher frequencies.
The following video provides an easy to understand explanation of this process:
Texas is the second largest state in the United States of America. Texas shares a border with Mexico, New Mexico, Arkansas and Louisiana. The capital city of Texas is Austin but the largest and most internationally recognized city in Texas is Houston. Texas has a plural executive branch system of government. This means that Texas has both a house of representatives and a senate. The head of the government system in Texas is the Governor.
Who was the first governor of Texas?
Prior to becoming an American state Texas was occupied by a number of different countries and was a Republic after they gained independence from Mexico. On December 29, 1845 Texas officially became part of the United States of America.
The first President of the Republic of Texas, after gaining it independence from Mexico, was Samuel Houston. Sam Houston was also the senator for Texas after the state joined the United States. As the first president of the Republic of Texas he lobbied for the annexation of Texas by the United States. In 1859 he became the 7th Governor of Texas and held that office until 1861. During the American Civil War he refused to swear loyalty to the confederacy and resigned from his position as governor of Texas.
The state’s first constitution made provision for a Governor in 1845. This person was to serve for two years and no more than four out of six years. This only allowed the governor to serve for two consecutive terms. The constitution of Texas has been amended a number of times since the first constitution and governors are now able to serve as many consecutive terms as they are elected to.
The first Governor of the state of Texas was James Pinckney Henderson. He held this position from February 1846 until December 1847. James Pinckney Henderson served as the attorney general under the president of the Republic of Texas Sam Houston prior to Texas becoming a state. James Pinckney Henderson did not run for a second term as the governor, but in November 1857 he became a U.S senator for the state of Texas. He continued his work in the senate until his death in June 1858.
Impetigo, sometimes known as school sores, is a infection common amongst young children. It is usually a minor illness that causes painless blisters filled with fluid that occur on the arms, legs, face and trunk. These blisters may be red and itchy and eventually break and turn into a scab. In some cases the infection spreads into the second layer of skin. This is known as ecthyma and it is a far more serious problem. Symptoms of ecthyma include painful blisters that turn into ulcers and eventually cause scarring and swollen glands. Let’s take a look at what causes this infection.
What causes impetigo?
There are two bacteria that cause impetigo and the most common is known as Staphylococcus aureus. This bacteria is also known as golden staph and causes a wide variety of illnesses. About 20% of all people are carriers of this bacteria in their nasal passages. A smaller number of cases are caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. The infection spreads by direct contact with the sores or from people that carry the bacteria. It takes about 1-3 days to start showing symptoms after being infected. The best prevention against impetigo is to practice good hygiene and avoid contact with people who show signs of being infected.
What is the treatment for impetigo?
The most common treatment for this infection is oral antibiotics or antibiotic cream. It is important to seek medical advice if you suspect you have impetigo.
Vultures are birds from one of two groups; Old World Vultures and New World Vultures. Despite their name these two groups of vultures are not closely related. However, all species of vultures are scavenging birds and are best known for feeding on dead animal carcasses. They are also known for having a “bald head” and this characteristic can be seen in most species. Keep reading if you want to know more about the habitat and distribution of the vulture.
Where do vultures live?
Generally speaking, New World Vultures are found in North and South America and Old World Vultures are found in Africa, Europe and Asia. The only continents of the world that do not have at least one species of vulture are Australia and Antarctica. Most species of vultures remain in one general area, but some species do migrate at certain times of the year. They inhabit a wide variety of habitats and many species nest high on mountains in ledges or rocky outcrops.
Did you know?
At least one species of vulture can be found year round throughout South America, Central America and the southern United States. In Summer, the turkey vulture can be found from southern Canada through to the southern tip of South America!
The largest true bird of prey is thought to be the Cinereous Vulture, which can reach 120 cm (47 in.) long and up to 14 kg (31lbs)!
The Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a large sculpture that was carved into granite by sculptor Gutzon Borglum and his son, Lincoln Borglum. The sculpture features the heads of 5 of the most famous Unites States Presidents; George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Initially the design called for each President to be sculpted from head to waist, but a lack of funding caused the project to be abandoned before this was completed. Today, more than 2 million people visit Mount Rushmore every year. Continue reading to find out the location of this impressive sculpture.
Where is Mount Rushmore located?
Mount Rushmore is located in Pennington County, which is located in the eastern region of South Dakota. The nearest town is Keystone, which is only a short drive from the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The Memorial has been operated by the U.S. National Park Service since 1933 and it is open every day of the year except for Christmas Day. There is no entrance fee for the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, but visitors do have to pay a parking fee for their vehicle.
The idea for Mount Rushmore came from historian Doane Robinson, who wanted to promote tourism. He proposed a site called The Needles in the Black Hills region of South Dakota, but the sculptor found the granite in this site to be of poor quality and there was strong opposition from Native American groups. Mount Rushmore was their second choice and the site proved suitable for construction.
The Kuiper belt is the region of the solar system that exists beyond the last planet from the sun (Neptune). It is sometimes compared to the asteroid belt because they both mostly consist of small objects. However, the Kuiper belt is estimated to be up to 200 times larger than the asteroid belt. The Kuiper belt is also the location of at least 3 dwarf planets, including Pluto. If you want to know who discovered this important region of the solar system, keep reading to find out.
The theory
The existence of the Kuiper belt was theorized long before its discovery. Astronomers such as Frederick C. Leonard, Kenneth Edgeworth, Gerard Kuiper (after whom this region is named), Fred Whipple and physicist Al G.W. Cameron, all hypothesized about a region beyond Neptune. In 1977, astronomer Charles Kowal discovered a planetoid between Saturn and Uranus and in 1992 another similar object was found. These discoveries, along with the study of the finite lifespan of comets, led astronomers to theorize that these objects must come from an outer region.
Who discovered the Kuiper belt?
The discovery of the Kuiper belt can be traced back to 1987 when astronomer David Jewitt was surprised that the outer Solar System was so empty. He worked with graduate student Jane Luu to discover an object beyond the orbit of Pluto. After 5 years of searching they announced the discovery of the first object in the Kuiper belt. They nicknamed the object “Smiley,” but this was already used for the name of an asteroid. Today the object is known as (15760) 1992 QB1 and it remains unnamed. Six months later they discovered another object in the region.
Adrien Brody is a celebrity actor who began taking acting classes at a young age. At just 13 he had appeared professionally on stage and in a television movie. His career looked to take off after landing an important role in “The Thin Red Line,” but the director edited out many of his parts due to time constraints. His breakthrough came in 2002 with the film “The Pianist” for which he won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role. At the time of the Academy Awards he was 29, which makes him the youngest actor to take out this award. The following is a list of movies that Adrien Brody has acted in during his career.
Movie Title/Year/Character
Midnight in Paris 2011 Salvador Dalí
Detachment 2011 Henry Barthes
Wrecked 2010 Man
The Experiment 2010 Travis
Predators 2010 Royce
High School 2010 Psycho Ed
Fantastic Mr. Fox 2009 Rickity the Field Mouse
Splice 2009 Clive Nicoli
Giallo 2009 Inspector Enzo Avolfi / Giallo
Cadillac Records 2008 Leonard Chess
The Brothers Bloom 2008 Bloom
Manolete 2008 Manuel Rodríguez Sánchez “Manolete”
The Darjeeling Limited 2007 Peter
Hollywoodland 2006 Louis Simo
King Kong 2005 Jack Driscoll
The Jacket 2005 Jack Starks
The Village 2004 Noah Percy
The Singing Detective 2003 First Hood
The Pianist 2002 Wladyslaw Szpilman
Dummy 2002 Steven
The Affair of the Necklace 2001 Count Nicolas De La Motte
Love the Hard Way 2001 Jack Grace
Harrison’s Flowers 2000 Kyle Morris
Bread and Roses 2000 Sam Shapiro
Liberty Heights 1999 Van Kurtzman
Summer of Sam 1999 Richie
Oxygen 1999 Harry
The Thin Red Line 1998 Cpl. Fife
Restaurant 1998 Chris Calloway
Six Ways to Sunday 1997 Arnie Finklestein
The Undertaker’s Wedding 1997 Mario Bellini
The Last Time I Committed Suicide 1997 Ben
Solo 1996 Dr. Bill Stewart, Solo’s Designer
Bullet 1996 Ruby Stein
Bullet Hearts 1996 Chuckie Bragg
Nothing to Lose 1995 Ray Diglovanni
Natural Born Killers 1994 Cameraman
Angels in the Outfield 1994 Danny Hemmerling
King of the Hill 1993 Lester
The Boy Who Cried Bitch 1991 Eddie
New York Stories 1989 Mel
Home at Last 1988 Billy
Related Movie Lists
Danny Glover Movie List – They both worked on the children’s movie “Angels in the Outfield.”
Madagascar is a large island country that lies off the south-east coast of the African continent. The country, which is the fourth largest island in the world, also includes a number of smaller islands which surround it. The capital city of Antananarivo is home to over 900,000 people and is known by the French shorthand Tana. The total population of Madagascar is approximately 21,926,221 and the official languages spoken are Malagasy and French. Madagascar was a French country for many years and gained its independence in 1960.
Interesting facts about Madagascar
Madagascar consumes the largest amount of rice per capita in the world.
Madagascar is the largest producer and exporter of vanilla. Madagascar also exports essential oils and shrimp and it is well known for its coffee beans.
The largest recognized religion in Madagascar is Christianity with 45% of the population being Christian. 50% of the population believes a mixture of indigenous spirituality.
The official name of Madagascar is the Republic of Madagascar. This became the official name in 1993 after previously being the Democratic Republic of Madagascar.
The Highest Mountain in Madagascar is Maromokotro with a height of 9,436 ft (2,876 m).
Madagascar has three main types of geography, the highlands, the escarpment and the plains.
Madagascar has a rainy season from November to April and a dry season from May to October. The east coast sees more rain than the west coast and the highlands are generally cooler and drier than the east coast.
Madagascar is home to many species of plants and animals that can be found nowhere else on Earth, such as lemurs. Approximately 80% of the fauna and Flora found in Madagascar is unique. Many of these plants and animals are classified as endangered species.
The national musical instrument of Madagascar is the Zither (valiha).
Madagascar has a number of traditional sports including Moraingy or lutte malgache, a type of hand-to-hand combat and the wrestling of zebu. Other popular sports include soccer and rugby. There is also a French form of lawn bowls that is widely played.
Madagascar also has a traditional board game known as Fanorona.
Madagascar is home to a World Heritage Site known as The Royal Hill of Ambohimanga. The site includes a royal city, scared places and a burial ground.
Tea is a popular brewed beverage that can be consumed both hot and cold. It is produced from the leaves of the tea plant Camellia sinensis. There are also herbal teas that are made from a variety of fruits, flowers, herbs and the leaves of other plants such as peppermint or raspberry plants. Both India and China produces large quantities of tea. Tea is grown in large plantations known as tea gardens.
How is Tea Made?
Tea plants are cultivated from the seeds that develop within the white flowers. Tea grows well in tropical to sub-tropical climates. For a tea plant to be ready to be harvested it must be about 3 to 5 years old. When the tea plant is ready for harvesting tea pluckers pick the leaves from the bush, which is done by hand. The tea leaves are collected and packaged together and sent onto a processing plant. The preparation of the tea leaves at the processing plant depends on the type of tea that is being made. The most common types of tea to be prepared are black tea, oolong tea, white tea, green tea and yellow tea.
Black Tea
Once the leaves reach the processing plant they are wilted and dried. This is done naturally using the sun and/or inside the factory using large heating machines. Once the leaves are dried they are sent for rolling. This exposes the leaves to oxygen and begins the oxidization process. The tea leaves are then sent for drying to stop the oxidization process and ensure that the tea tannins stay intact. The tea is the then packaged and sent out for distribution.
Oolong Tea
As with black tea, the creation of oolong tea begins with the tea leaves first being dried using the sun and large heating machines to wilt the leaves. They are then tossed in large baskets to slightly bruise them and open them to oxidization. The leaves are then baked in large ovens or pan fried to speed the oxidization process. The leaves are then rolled using large rollers, dried and fired to produce Oolong tea.
White Tea
White tea begins its journey with the tea leaves being dried in the same manner as leaves are for black tea or oolong tea. White tea is wilted but unoxidized. From here the leaves are sent to be baked to stop any oxidization occurring. They are then lightly rolled and dried.
Yellow Tea
Yellow tea is unwilted and unoxidized but is yellowed. Yellow tea leaves are not dried in the sun or in large heating machines instead they are sent straight to large frying pans where they are panned to stop oxidization. From here they are allowed to yellow by a process called sweltering. They are then rolled and dried.
Green Tea
Green tea is the most natural form of tea as it is neither wilted nor oxidized. The leaves are sent straight to a steamer without any sun drying. From here they are rolled and dried.
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