President pro tempore of the United States Senate

In the United States, the President pro tempore of the Senate is the second-highest-ranking official of the upper house of Congress, the Senate. The Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate ex officio; the President pro tempore presides during his absence. The current President pro tempore of the Senate is Ted Stevens, a Republican senator from Alaska, who has held the office since January 3, 2003.

History

Originally, the President pro tempore was appointed on a daily or weekly basis when the Vice President of the United States was not present to preside over the Senate. Until the 1960s, it was common practice for the Vice President to preside over daily Senate sessions, so the President pro tempore rarely presided over the Senate unless the Vice Presidency became vacant.

Related Topics:
Vice President of the United States - 1960s

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Until 1891, the President pro tempore only served until the return of the Vice President to the chair or the adjournment of a session of Congress. Between 1792 and 1886, the President pro tempore was second in the line of presidential succession following the Vice President and preceding the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The President pro tempore and the Speaker were removed from succession in 1886, but were restored in 1947. This time, however, the President pro tempore followed the Speaker.

Related Topics:
1891 - 1792 - 1886 - Presidential succession - Speaker of the House of Representatives - 1947

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the early years, the President pro tempore was usually a senator noted for his skill at parliamentary procedure. Over the years, however, the office became less work-a-day and more ceremonial; gradually, it became the custom for it to be given to a senior senator. Since 1945 it has been the invariable rule that the most senior senator of the majority party holds the office.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The President pro tempore, just like the Vice President, over time has ceased presiding over the Senate on a daily basis, notably due to its lack of power or glamour. More importantly, since the President pro tempore is now usually the most senior senator of the majority party, he or she most likely also chairs a major Senate committee, along with performing other duties related to seniority. Therefore, the President pro tempore has less time now than in the past to preside daily over the Senate. Instead, junior senators of the majority party are designated acting president pro tempore to preside over the Senate on a daily basis. This allows junior senators to learn proper parliamentary procedure.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~