Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
The Constitution provides for two officers to preside over the Senate. Article One, Section 3, Clause 4 designates the vice president of the United States as the president of the Senate. In this capacity, the vice president was expected to preside at regular sessions of the Senate, casting votes only to break ties.
On September 20, 2001, President George W. Bush gave a speech before a joint session of Congress in response to the September 11 attacks. Vice President Dick Cheney was the designated survivor which led to Senate president pro tempore Robert Byrd presiding alongside House Speaker Dennis Hastert. [26] [27]
This stipulation was designed to avoid the possible conflict of interest in having the vice president preside over the trial for the removal of the one official standing between them and the presidency. [49] In contrast, the Constitution is silent about which federal official would preside were the vice president on trial by the Senate.
The vice president has three constitutional functions: to replace the president in the event of death, disability or resignation; to count the votes of electors for president and vice president and declare the winners before a joint session of Congress; and to preside over the Senate (with the role of breaking ties).
John Adams, the first vice president of the United States, cast 29 tie-breaking votes during his tenure. His first vote was on July 18, 1789. [4] He used his votes to preserve the president's sole authority over the removal of appointees, [5] influence the location of the national capital, [6] and prevent war with Great Britain. [7]
Bills described as reconciliation bills can pass the Senate by a simple majority of 51 votes or 50 votes plus the vice president's as the tie-breaker. The reconciliation procedure also applies to the House of Representatives , but it has minor significance there, as the rules of the House of Representatives do not have a de facto supermajority ...
The annual salary of the vice president is $235,300. [7] The salary level was set by the Government Salary Reform Act of 1989, which provides an automatic cost of living adjustment for federal employees. The vice president receives the same pension as other members of Congress as the president of the Senate. [8]
The speaker does not normally preside over debates, but is, rather, the leader of the majority party in the House. The Vice President of the United States is, ex officio, President of the Senate. The Senate also elects a President pro tempore. For decades the person elected has been the most senior member of the majority party in the Senate ...