Notes

the presiding officers of the house of Representatives and the senate are chosen according to article 1 of the constitution the speaker is the leader of the house and the vice president of the united states is the president is the president of the senate. The House has always elected one of its own members as Speaker. The Speaker is the leader of the majority party but is expected to act fairly to both parties. He or she is the most important leader in both houses of Congress. The duties include keeping order during discussions on the floor and presiding over each House session. The Speaker sends bills (proposed laws) to committees. If there is a tie in the voting, he or she may be called on to break the tie. After the Vice President, the Speaker is next in line to become President of the United States The Senate does not pick its own presiding officer. According to the Constitution, the Vice President of the United States is the president of the Senate but is not a member of the Senate. The president of the Senate may not even be a member of the controlling party in the Senate. The position has less power than the Speaker. The president of the Senate may not debate issues in Congress and may only vote to break a tie. If the Vice President cannot be present, the president pro tempore, who is elected by the Senate, takes the Vice President’s place. The president pro tempore follows the Speaker as next in succession for the presidency.