who is senate pro tem
State Senate President Pro Tempore. The Senate president pro tempore (for the time being), or pro tem, is the second-highest-ranking leadership position in the U.S. Senate and most state Senate chambers. The president pro tem presides over the Senate body in the absence of the Senate president. In most cases, the president pro tem is a senior-ranking member of the majority party. Specific duties and privileges of the president pro tem vary according to federal and state legislative rules.