1、1Floyd M. Riddickand Alan S. Frumin, Riddicks Senate Procedure: Precedents and Practices(Washington: GPO, 1992).Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21553Updated November 25, 2003Presiding Officer: Senatename re dactedA
2、nalyst in American National GovernmentGovernment & Finance DivisionSummaryTheConstitutiondesignatestheVicePresidentoftheUnitedStatesasthepresidingofficer of the Senate and further provides that in the absence of the Vice President, theSenate may elect a President pro tempore, who by custom, is usual
3、ly the most seniorSenator of the majority party, to perform the duties of the chair. In daily practice,however,theduties and functions ofthechair are carried out byan acting President protempore,andtemporarypresidingofficers,oftenjuniorSenators,whorotateinthechairfor shifts of generally one hour eac
4、h. Since 1977, only majority-party Senators havebeenappointedtopresideovertheSenate,exceptduringthepower-sharingperiodofthe107thCongress(2001-2002),whenchambercontrolwasevenlydivided. Thisreportwillbe updated as warranted.Election and Historical Position of President of the SenateThe Senate does not