List_of_presidents_pro_tempore_of_the_United_States_Senate

List of presidents pro tempore of the United States Senate

List of presidents pro tempore of the United States Senate

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The president pro tempore of the United States Senate (also president pro tem) is the second-highest-ranking official of the United States Senate. Article I, Section Three of the United States Constitution provides that the vice president of the United States, despite not being a senator, is the president of the Senate. It also establishes that the Senate must choose a president pro tempore to act in the absence of the vice president:[1]

The Senate shall choose their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice President, or when he or she shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.

In practice, neither the vice president nor the president pro tempore usually presides; instead, the duty of presiding officer is rotated among junior senators of the majority party to give them experience in parliamentary procedure.

The president pro tempore is third in the line of succession to the presidency, after the vice president and the speaker of the House of Representatives and ahead of the secretary of state.[2]

Since 1890, the most senior senator in the majority party has generally been chosen to be president pro tempore,[3] and holds the office continuously until the election of another president pro tempore.[3] During most of the 62nd Congress, following William Frye's resignation on April 27, 1911, five senators—Augustus Bacon, Charles Curtis, Jacob Gallinger, Henry Cabot Lodge, and Frank Brandegee—alternated as president pro tempore.

Since the office was created in 1789, 92 individuals, from 39 of the 50 states, have served as president pro tempore of the Senate. The current president pro tempore is Patty Murray of Washington, who assumed office on January 3, 2023, at the start of the 118th Congress. In 2001, the honorary title of president pro tempore emeritus was created, and it has been given to a senator of the minority party who has previously served as president pro tempore. This title is currently held by Chuck Grassley of Iowa.

Every president pro tempore but one has been a member of a political party or faction; the number affiliated with each is:

  Democratic – 32;   Republican – 25;   Democratic-Republican – 15;[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2]   Federalist – 10;   Jacksonian – 3;[lower-alpha 2]   Anti-Administration – 2;[lower-alpha 1]   National Republican – 2;   Pro-Administration – 2;   Whig – 2;   Independent – 1.

Presidents pro tempore

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Notes

  1. Henry Tazewell was affiliated with the Anti-Administration bloc prior to formation of the Democratic-Republican Party.
  2. Samuel Smith was a member of the Democratic–Republican Party until it became fractured, at which time he sided with its pro-Jackson faction.
  3. Served during a vacancy in the vice presidency, April 6–21, 1789, prior to the inauguration of John Adams.
  4. Served during a vacancy in the vice presidency, April 20, 1812–March 4, 1813, following the death of George Clinton.
  5. Served during a vacancy in the vice presidency, November 23, 1814–March 4, 1817, following the death of Elbridge Gerry.
  6. Served during a vacancy in the vice presidency, December 28, 1832–March 4, 1833, following the resignation of John C. Calhoun.
  7. Served during a vacancy in the vice presidency, April 4, 1841–March 4, 1845, after John Tyler succeeded to the presidency.
  8. Ambrose H. Sevier was not elected as president pro tempore in an official manner, but permitted to occupy the chair for the day.
  9. Served during a vacancy in the vice presidency, July 9, 1850–March 4, 1853, after Millard Fillmore succeeded to the presidency.
  10. Served during a vacancy in the vice presidency, April 18, 1853–March 4, 1857, following the death of William R. King.
  11. Served during a vacancy in the vice presidency, April 15, 1865–March 4, 1869, after Andrew Johnson succeeded to presidency.
  12. Served during a vacancy in the vice presidency, November 22, 1875–March 4, 1877, following the death of Henry Wilson.
  13. Served during a vacancy in the vice presidency, September 19, 1881–March 4, 1885, after Chester A. Arthur succeeded to presidency.
  14. Served during a vacancy in the vice presidency, November 25, 1885–March 4, 1889, following the death of Thomas A. Hendricks.
  15. Served during a vacancy in the vice presidency, November 21, 1899–March 4, 1901, following the death of Garret Hobart.
  16. Served during a vacancy in the vice presidency, September 14, 1901–March 4, 1905, after Theodore Roosevelt succeeded to presidency.
  17. Served during a vacancy in the vice presidency, October 30, 1912–March 4, 1913, following the death of James S. Sherman.
  18. Served during a vacancy in the vice presidency, August 2, 1923–March 4, 1925, after Calvin Coolidge succeeded to presidency.
  19. Served during a vacancy in the vice presidency, April 12, 1945–January 20, 1949, after Harry S. Truman succeeded to presidency.
  20. Served during a vacancy in the vice presidency, November 22, 1963–January 20, 1965, after Lyndon B. Johnson succeeded to presidency.
  21. Served during a vacancy in the vice presidency, October 10, 1973–December 6, 1973, following the resignation of Spiro Agnew.
  22. Served during a vacancy in the vice presidency, August 9, 1974–December 19, 1974, after Gerald Ford succeeded to presidency.

President pro tempore emeritus

In 2001, the honorary title of president pro tempore emeritus was created. It has subsequently been bestowed upon a senator of the minority party who has previously served as president pro tempore.[3]

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See also

References

  1. [1]
    Gill, Kathy. "US Senate Organization". The New York Times Company. Retrieved October 19, 2009 – via About.com.
  2. [2]
    Mount, Steve. "Constitutional Topic: Presidential Line of Succession". USConstitution.net. Steve Mount. Retrieved October 19, 2009.
  3. [3]
    Davis, Christopher M. (December 20, 2012). The President Pro Tempore of the Senate: History and Authority of the Office (Report). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved February 23, 2015.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from About the President Pro Tempore. United States Senate.
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