Presiding Officer: Senate (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised Nov. 25, 2003 |
| Report Number |
RS21553 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Colton C. Campbell, Government and Finance Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
The Constitution designates the Vice President of the United States as the presiding officer of
the
Senate and further provides that in the absence of the Vice President, the Senate may elect a
President pro tempore, who by custom, is usually the most senior Senator of the majority party, to
perform the duties of the chair. In daily practice, however, the duties and functions of the chair are
carried out by an acting President pro tempore, and temporary presiding officers, often junior
Senators, who rotate in the chair for shifts of generally one hour each. Since 1977, only
majority-party Senators have been appointed to preside over the Senate, except during the
power-sharing period of the 107th Congress (2001-2002), when chamber control was evenly divided.
This report will be updated as warranted.
