The President Pro Tempore of the Senate: History and Authority of the Office

Christopher M. Davis
Analyst on Congress and the Legislative Process

The U.S. Constitution establishes the office of the President pro tempore of the Senate to preside over the Senate in the Vice President's absence. Since 1947, the President pro tempore has stood third in line to succeed to the presidency, after the Vice President and the Speaker of the House.

Although the President pro tempore's powers are limited and not comparable to those of the Speaker of the House, as the chamber's presiding officer, he is authorized to perform certain duties. For example, he may decide points of order (subject to appeal) and enforce decorum in the Senate chamber and galleries.

Early in the nation's history, some Presidents pro tempore appointed Senators to standing committees. While they no longer do so, election to the office is considered one of the highest honors bestowed by the Senate, and Presidents pro tempore are traditionally accorded a somewhat larger salary and allowances for staff.

Eighty-eight different Senators have served as President pro tempore. Sixty-one served prior to 1900, when Vice Presidents routinely presided over the chamber and Presidents pro tempore were elected to serve only for limited periods when the Vice President was absent or ill, or the office was vacated. Frequently, several different Presidents pro tempore were chosen in a single congressional session, "on the basis of their personal characteristics, popularity, and reliability." (See Robert C. Byrd, "President Pro Tempore of the Senate," in Donald C. Bacon, Roger H. Davidson, and Morton Keller, eds., The Encyclopedia of the Congress, 4 vols., New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995, vol. 3, p. 1604.) The President pro tempore in the 111th Congress is Senator Daniel K. Inouye, Democrat of Hawaii.

Since 1890, the President pro tempore has customarily been the majority party Senator with the longest continuous service. Twice, the Senate has also created an office of Deputy President pro tempore to honor a colleague, and an office of Permanent Acting President pro tempore in a third instance for the same reason. In 2001, the Senate also created an office of President pro tempore Emeritus.

This report traces the constitutional origins and development of the office of President pro tempore of the Senate, reviews its current role and authority, and provides information on Senators who have held this office, and the more recently created subsidiary offices, over the past two centuries.


Date of Report: June 30, 2010
Number of Pages: 30
Order Number: RL30960
Price: $29.95

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