President Pro Tempore

The **President pro tempore of the United States Senate** is the second-highest ranking official in the United States Senate, as well as the highest-

## President pro tempore of the United States Senate

Seal of the President Pro Tempore

ranking official to hold a seat within the Senate. The President pro tempore is usually the most senior member of the majority party, although this custom has recently been broken often. The President pro tempore acts in the absence of the Vice President, who is the *ex officio President of the Senate*, despite not having a seat in the chamber. However, the President pro tempore does have a seat, and thus can speak and vote on issues like a regular member. The President pro tempore has enjoyed many privileges and powers. The President pro tempore is also third in line in the presidential line of succession, behind the Vice President and Speaker of the House, and ahead of the Secretary of State.

The President Pro Tempore receives an $193,400 p.a. salary, and theoretically could serve in the office for as long as they liked, as long as the Senate kept re-electing them. The term of the PPT is not well defined, usually ending if the majority party switches. Traditionally, the most senior member of the majority party has been President Pro Tempore, although from 2021-onwards, Alamkan M. Countryball Sr. was continuously re-elected to the office despite never being part of the majority party. The PPT can sometimes also be the Dean of the U.S. Senate, which is a ceremonial role for the most senior U.S. Senator regardless of party affiliation, although due to the partisan nature of the role, this can easily not be the case. The role is 3rd in the line of Presidential succession, behind the Vice President and Speaker of the House. Other recent PPTs have included Sonic Heely and Melon King.

## Powers

The role can be compared to the Speaker of the House, however it's powers are lesser. However, the PPT fills in as presiding officer, meaning they have the power to *rule on points of order*. The role, along with the Speaker, under the 25th Amendment to the United States Condition, are the 2 officers of which declarations that the President of the United States is unable to perform the duties of the office, or is able to resume these duties. Due to the PPT's role in the line of succession, they are one of the only members of Congress entitled to a full-time security detail. They may also appoint certain congressional officers. Along with the Secretary, and Sargeant-At-Arms, the PPT maintains order within the Senate portion of the U.S. Capitol.

## Related offices

### Acting President Pro Tempore

Due to the role of PPT being more prestigious and indirectly influential rather than directly powerful, along with the Vice President, the PPT has usually decided against presiding over sessions. Despite the idea of presiding becoming less necessary since the 2020's, PPT Alamkan has been considered the most powerful President Pro Tempore in history, despite not being given this power by the role itself.

Due to this, many sessions are presided by an acting PPT, designated by the PPT. This allows for an opportunity for more junior U.S. Senators to learn proper parliamentary procedure. This role is usually re-appointed on an irregular session-by-session and/or daily basis.

### Deputy president pro tempore

The role of Deputy PPT is an entirely ceremonial role for any former President or Vice President of the United States serving in the U.S. Senate. Multiple people have held this honor, including Hubert Humphrey, Sonic Heely, Alamkan and Melon. George Mitchell was elected Deputy PPT (despite not meeting the qualifications) from 1987 to 1989, due to the overly busy schedule of President Pro Tempore William Proxmire.

### President pro tempore Emeritus

The honorary title PPT emeritus is designated to any former President pro tempore still serving in the U.S. Senate. This role was created in 2001 for PPT Alamkan once the chamber flipped mid-term due to a switch in majority via the switch of party by Vermont Senator Jim Jeffords. However, once the National Conservatives regained the chamber in 2002, Alamkan became the new PPT and Ted Kennedy became the second PPT emeritus. In 2007, the chamber flipped back yet again, with Alamkan becoming the 3rd PPT emeritus and Ted Kennedy returning as PPT. However, in 2015, Alamkan Sr. yet again became PPT. However, no one else fit the qualifications until 2035, where Teddy Roosevelt became the 4th PPT emeritus, serving in the role until 2037. Heely became the 5th in 2042, Melon the 6th in 2053 & the 7th in 2057, and Heely the 8th in 2059. Melon became the 9th once more upon his return in 2067, where he has served in the role until 2071. Alamkan held the role as the 10th from 2071 to 2079, where the role was vacant until 2083, where Trotsky was the 11th. Viktor became the 12th in 2091, Jah the 13th in 2093, Jah the 14th in 2103, and finally Trotsky as the 15th in 2105, as the incumbent PPT emeritus.

The PPT Emeritus advises party leaders on party functions, and they are entitled to an increase in staff. The office's budget increase was removed in 2015.

### President pro tempore eterno emeritus/mortuis

The title of **President pro tempore eterno emeritus** was gifted to Alamkan M. Countryball Sr for his over 200 year tenure and over 110 years as PPT. The title is permanent, and has only been awarded to him.

Upon Alamkan's death in 2094, the title was renamed to **President pro tempore eterno mortuis.**

### Chair of Republican Seniority

Due to Alamkan's unhuman length of tenure, the GOP voted in 1965 that an office known as Chair of Republican Seniority would be given to the senator who would've been party dean if Alamkan had not been serving. The role was mainly honorary, and, unlike President pro tempore, was not mutually exclusive with other offices, such as Majority/Minority Leader. The role was abolished in 2023.

**LIST:**

George Aiken (Vermont) 1965 - 1975

Richard Nixon (California) 1975-1993

Strom Thurmond (South Carolina) 1993-2003

Bob Dole (Kansas) 2003-2011

Dick Lugar (Indiana) 2011-2013

Orrin Hatch (Utah) 2013-2019

Chuck Grassley (Iowa) 2019-2023