Who Really Controls The Senate: Chief Officer's Powers Explained

The Presiding Officer of the United States Senate is responsible for maintaining order and decorum, recognizing members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules. The role is usually performed by one of three officials: the vice president of the United States, an elected United States senator (President pro tempore), or the chief justice of the United States. The Sergeant at Arms is the protocol and chief law enforcement officer of the Senate and is the principal administrative manager for most support services. The current secretary of the Senate is Jackie Barber.

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The US Constitution designates the vice president as the president of the Senate

Historically, from John Adams in 1789 to Richard Nixon in the 1950s, presiding over the Senate was the chief function of vice presidents. However, in 1961, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson changed the role by relocating his chief office to the White House and focusing primarily on executive functions. Since then, vice presidents have generally followed Johnson's example, attending Senate sessions only when their vote or ruling may be crucial.

Article One, Section 3, Clause 4 of the Constitution designates the vice president as the president of the Senate. Additionally, Article One, Section 3, Clause 5 provides that in the absence of the vice president, the Senate may elect a president pro tempore to temporarily preside and perform the duties of the chair. The president pro tempore is typically the most senior senator in the majority party. However, in practice, neither the vice president nor the president pro tempore routinely presides over the Senate's daily proceedings. Instead, a designated junior senator from the majority party usually assumes this role.

The Constitution also allows for the appointment of an acting president pro tempore and authorizes the president pro tempore to designate any other senator to carry out their duties. The presiding officer, regardless of who fills the role, is typically addressed as "Mr. President" or "Madam President."

The vice president's role has evolved since 1961, when Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson moved his chief office to the White House

The Vice President of the United States is the Presiding Officer of the Senate. The role of the vice presidency has evolved significantly since 1961, when Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson moved his chief office from Capitol Hill to the White House. Before 1961, vice presidents had their offices on Capitol Hill, with a formal office in the Capitol itself and a working office in the Russell Senate Office Building. Johnson's decision to move his office to the White House marked a shift in the focus of the vice presidency, as he directed his attention more towards executive functions. He attended Senate sessions only when his vote or ruling from the chair was necessary. Since Johnson's time, vice presidents have generally followed his example, and the role has become increasingly associated with the executive branch of the government.

The vice presidency was initially considered an insignificant office, with vice presidents rarely being involved in the decision-making process or the day-to-day running of the country. Traditionally, the chief function of vice presidents was to preside over the Senate, casting tie-breaking votes when needed. However, since Johnson's time, the role has evolved to include more advisory and representative responsibilities. Modern vice presidents often serve as key presidential advisors, governing partners, and representatives of the president. They are also statutory members of the United States Cabinet and the National Security Council, playing a crucial role in executive government and national security matters.

The evolution of the vice presidency can be attributed to several factors, including the expansion of the role's power and prestige over time. The creation of the Office of the Vice President in 1939 marked the beginning of the role's growing importance. Additionally, in 1949, President Truman made the vice president a member of the National Security Council and a recipient of regular security briefings, recognising the need for vice presidents to be well-informed. This was in response to Truman's own experience as vice president, where he felt left out of the loop on crucial matters such as the Manhattan Project.

While the vice president is still technically the Presiding Officer of the Senate, in practice, they rarely fulfil this duty. Instead, the role is often delegated to a President pro tempore or a designated junior senator. This delegation further emphasises the shift in the vice president's focus away from the legislative branch and towards the executive branch. The vice president's role within the executive branch has expanded, while their role in the legislative branch has contracted.

It is worth noting that the Secretary of the Senate, elected by the vote of the Senate, also plays a crucial role in the day-to-day operations of the Senate. The Secretary's responsibilities include both legislative and administrative functions, overseeing clerks, librarians, historians, curators, reporters of debate, and more. The Sergeant at Arms, another elected position, serves as the chief law enforcement and protocol officer of the Senate, maintaining security and enforcing Senate rules and regulations. These officers work together to ensure the smooth functioning of the Senate and provide support to senators and their staff.

The Senate also elects a president pro tempore to fill in when the vice president is absent

The Presiding Officer of the United States Senate is responsible for maintaining order and decorum, recognizing members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules and practices. The role is usually performed by the Vice President of the United States, who is also the President of the Senate. The Vice President is authorized to cast a tie-breaking vote.

However, in the absence of the Vice President, the Senate elects a President pro tempore to fill the role. This is usually the most senior (longest-serving) senator in the majority party. The President pro tempore can also designate any other senator to perform their duties, which is usually a junior senator. This is because, in modern times, the President pro tempore and Vice President rarely serve in the role of Presiding Officer.

The Senate also has a Secretary, who is elected by the vote of the Senate and performs the duties of the Presiding Officer in the absence of the Vice President and pending the election of a President pro tempore. The Secretary supervises the day-to-day operations of the Senate and has a wide range of responsibilities, including legislative and administrative functions. The current Secretary of the Senate is Jackie Barber.

The Sergeant at Arms is another important officer in the Senate, serving as the chief law enforcement and protocol officer. They are responsible for maintaining security in the Capitol and Senate buildings, protecting senators, and enforcing Senate rules and regulations. The current Sergeant at Arms is Jennifer A.

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The chief justice presides over presidential impeachment trials

The Presiding Officer of the United States Senate is the person who presides over the Senate and is responsible for maintaining order and decorum, recognizing members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules and practices. The role is usually performed by one of three officials: the vice president of the United States; an elected United States senator (President pro tempore); or, under certain circumstances, the chief justice of the United States.

The United States Constitution designates the vice president as the president of the Senate. The vice president is expected to preside at regular sessions of the Senate and cast votes to break ties. However, since 1961, vice presidents have shifted their focus to executive functions, and their presence at Senate sessions is limited to critical times. In the absence of the vice president, the duties of the presiding officer are assumed by the President pro tempore or someone designated by them, usually a junior senator.

Article One, Section 3, Clause 6 of the Constitution grants the Senate the authority to try federal impeachments and outlines the procedures for impeachment trials. During impeachment trials of the president, the chief justice of the United States presides over the proceedings. This provision aims to prevent any potential conflict of interest that may arise if the vice president, who is next in line for the presidency, were to preside over the impeachment trial of the incumbent president.

The chief justice has presided over presidential impeachment trials on only three occasions in history. Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase presided over the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson in 1868, Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist presided over the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton in 1999, and Chief Justice John Roberts presided over the first impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in 2020.

The secretary of the Senate is another elected officer who supervises offices and services to expedite the Senate's day-to-day operations

The Secretary of the Senate is an elected officer who supervises offices and services to expedite the Senate's day-to-day operations. The Secretary's responsibilities include both legislative and administrative functions, with jurisdiction over clerks and librarians, historians and curators, reporters of debate, stationery supplies, payroll, education of Senate pages, and the maintenance of public records. The Secretary also performs the duties of the Presiding Officer of the Senate in the absence of the Vice President and pending the election of a President pro tempore.

The current secretary of the Senate is Jackie Barber. The Secretary is the custodian of the seal of the Senate and is responsible for drawing up requisitions on the Secretary of the Treasury for funds appropriated for the compensation of Senators, officers, and employees, and for the contingent expenses of the Senate. The Secretary is also empowered to administer oaths to any officer of the Senate and to any witness produced before it.

The Secretary's executive duties include the certification of extracts from the Journal of the Senate, the attestation of bills and resolutions, and the issuance of orders, mandates, writs, and precepts authorized by the Senate during impeachment trials. The Secretary also certifies to the President of the United States the advice and consent of the Senate regarding the ratification of treaties and the confirmation or rejection of presidential nominations.

In addition to the Secretary, the Senate also has a Sergeant at Arms, who serves as the chief law enforcement and protocol officer and is the principal administrative manager for most support services in the Senate. The Sergeant at Arms is responsible for maintaining security in the Capitol and Senate buildings, protecting Senators, enforcing Senate rules and regulations, escorting the President and other heads of state, and assisting in planning the inauguration of the President and the swearing-in of newly elected Senators.

While the Vice President of the United States is the Presiding Officer of the Senate, the day-to-day role is typically performed by a designated junior senator from the majority party. In the absence of the Vice President, the duties are usually taken over by a President pro tempore or someone designated by them. The Presiding Officer is responsible for maintaining order and decorum, recognizing members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules and precedents.

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