President of the Senate
The president of the senate is a title frequently given in state legislatures to the presiding officer of a state senate. State senate presidents preside over legislative sessions and ensure that members of the chamber abide by procedural rules. In many states, the lieutenant governor serves as the president of the senate, while a state senator assumes the role of president pro tempore. In other cases, the president of the senate is a state senator elected by the members of the chamber.
At the federal level, the vice president of the United States serves as the president of the United States Senate.[1]
Overview
Leadership at the state legislative level refers to a range of different positions, including senate presidents and presidents pro tempore, house and assembly speakers, and minority and majority leaders. There are also middle- and lower-level leadership positions, such as whips, deputies, and floor leaders. Voters typically have little direct say in who holds these positions. Instead, the legislators themselves usually select their leaders. While the power and authority—and even the names—of leadership positions vary from chamber-to-chamber and state-to-state, leaders in state legislatures generally play influential roles in four, often interconnected, areas: the legislative process, elections, management, and career advancement. Read more about state legislative leadership positions here. |
The president of the senate is the primary leader of the senate body. Responsibilities that generally come with the position include presiding over legislative sessions and ensuring that senators abide by procedural rules. In the absence of the Senate president, many of the position's responsibilities are carried out by the president pro tempore.
The lieutenant governor serves as the president of the senate in 25 states. In other states, the president of the senate is a state senator chosen by the members of the chamber. In the late 20th century and early 21st century, some states, such as Ohio and Rhode Island, removed the role of president of the senate from the duties of the lieutenant governor and instituted a process to select the senate president from among the members of the Senate body.[2][3][4]
Though "president of the senate" is the most common title for the senate leader, not all states adhere to the norm. For example, the Tennessee State Senate refers to its Senate leader as the speaker. In addition, Tennessee and West Virginia bestow the title of lieutenant governor on the senate leader, who is selected by the members of the chamber.[5][6]
History
The modern role of president of the senate is rooted in the lieutenant governorships of the colonial era. During that period, lieutenant governors often presided over the governors' councils, which existed in each colony and functioned as the upper houses of government in colonies with a bicameral legislature. After states gained their independence, the lieutenant governor often presided over the state senate. For example, New York's 1777 constitution called for a lieutenant governor "who presides in the senate, and is the constitutional substitute for the Governor in casualties similar to those, which would authorise the vice president to exercise the authorities and discharge the duties of the president."[7][8][9]
In the late 20th century and early 21st century, some states, such as Ohio and Rhode Island, removed the role of president of the senate from the duties of the lieutenant governor and instituted a process of selection through which the senate president is elected by the senators from among the members of the senate body.[2][10]
State vs. federal
At the federal level, the vice president of the United States serves as the president of the U.S. Senate. In this capacity, the vice president presides over the Senate sessions and casts tie-breaking votes when necessary.[1]
At the state level, lieutenant governors or state senators serve as senate presidents. Specific duties and voting powers vary by state.
Responsibilities
The president of the senate is the principal leader of the Senate. Though specific duties of the position vary in senate chambers across the country, the president of the senate may assume any or all of the following duties:[11][2][12][13][14]
- Calls the chamber to order
- Presides over the Senate sessions and joint sessions of the House and Senate
- Ensures that members abide by the chamber's rules
- Oversees the legislative process
- Decides questions of order
- Recognizes speakers
- Declares votes
- Appoints committee chairs and members
- Selects the Senate majority leader
- Administers oaths
Votes
The president of the senate's voting powers vary by state. The president may vote according to one of the following scenarios:
- Tie-breaking votes only
The president of the senate may only cast a vote on questions in order to resolve a tie. This scenario is most common in states where the lieutenant governor serves as president of the senate.[11][5][15][16] - Full voting privileges
The president of the senate may vote on all questions put before the legislative body. This scenario is most common in states where the president of the senate is a state senator chosen from among the members of the chamber.[2] - Full voting privileges, but only tie-breaking votes are required
The president of the senate may vote on any question put before the body, but is only required to cast tie-breaking votes.[17]
Tenure
Selection
In cases where the lieutenant governor serves as the president of the senate, the position is most often elected by voters in the state every four years during the general election.[18]
In the remaining states, the president of the senate is a state senator elected by the members of the chamber. Depending on the state, these leaders serve two-year or four-year terms.[12][5]
Term limits
Lieutenant governors and state senators who serve as senate presidents are subject to any applicable term limits on elected offices in their respective states.
Specific term limits on legislative leadership positions exist in Illinois and New York. In Illinois, a state senator can serve as president of the senate for a maximum of 10 years. In New York, the Senate president pro tempore is limited to an eight-year term.[19][20]
Current leadership
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 U.S. Senate, "President of the Senate: Vice President of the United States," accessed January 13, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 State of Rhode Island General Assembly, "Senate leadership," accessed January 11, 2017
- ↑ Ohio Senate, "Senate President," accessed January 13, 2017
- ↑ Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico, "Duties and responsibilities," accessed January 13, 2017
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 The Pew Charitable Trusts, "In Many States, Lieutenant Governors Take on Larger Role," April 7, 2015
- ↑ Tennessee General Assembly, "The Senate," accessed January 11, 2017
- ↑ United States Senate, "Vice President of the United States (President of the Senate)," accessed January 13, 2017
- ↑ Dictionary of American History, "Colonial Councils," accessed January 27, 2017
- ↑ History of the USA, "Colonial government," accessed January 27, 2017
- ↑ The Ohio Senate, "Senate President," accessed January 27, 2017
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 General Assembly of North Carolina, "North Carolina Senate," accessed January 11, 2017
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 National Conference of State Legislatures, "Roles and responsibilities of selected leadership positions," accessed January 11, 2017
- ↑ Florida Senate, "Office of the Senate President," accessed January 13, 2017
- ↑ Texas Politics, "The Legislative Branch—6.1 President of the Senate: Lieutenant Governor," accessed January 13, 2017
- ↑ Lieutenant Governor of Missouri, "Frequently asked questions," accessed January 13, 2017
- ↑ Lieutenant Governor of Delaware, "About," accessed January 13, 2017
- ↑ Louisiana Senate, "Rules—Chapter 3. Officers," accessed January 13, 2017
- ↑ National Lieutenant Governors Association, "Methods of Election," accessed January 13, 2017
- ↑ Illinois Policy, "Illinois Senate passes term limits for legislative leaders," January 13, 2017
- ↑ The New York State Senate, "Senate Passes Term Limits for State Legislative Leadership," January 12, 2016
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