United States Senate Majority Leader

The Senate Majority Leader is a member of the United States Senate who is elected by the party conference which holds the majority in the Senate to serve as the chief Senate spokesman for his or her party and to manage and schedule the legislative and executive business of the Senate. By custom, the Presiding Officer gives the Majority Leader priority in obtaining recognition to speak on the floor of the Senate. The term Floor Leaders refers to both the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader.

Related Topics:
United States Senate - Party - Majority - Floor Leader - Minority Leader

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The Majority leader customarily serves as the chief representative and "face" of his or her party in Senate, and sometimes even in all of Congress if the House of Representatives and thus office of Speaker of the House is controlled by the opposition party.

Related Topics:
Congress - House of Representatives - Speaker of the House

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The position is not designated in the U.S. Constitution. It evolved into existence over time. It wasn't until the 1920s when the two parties formally began to call their leaders Majority and Minority Leader. The Democrats began this practice starting in 1920 while they were in the minority. In 1925 the majority (of the time) Republicans also adopted this language.

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Senator Charles Curtis of Kansas became the first Majority Leader in 1925. From 1929-1933 Curtis served as Vice President of the United States under President Hoover.

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The Constitution designates the Vice President of the United States as President of the Senate. The Constitution also calls for a President Pro Tempore to serve as the leader of the body when the President of the Senate (the Vice President) is absent. All of these roles still exist today, however, for practical purposes it is now the Majority Leader who runs the Senate.

Related Topics:
Vice President of the United States - President of the Senate

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In January of 2003 Republican Bill Frist was elected Senate Majority Leader. He succeeded Trent Lott who resigned his leadership position in December 2002 due to controversial remarks he made.

Related Topics:
Republican - Bill Frist - Trent Lott

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