president pro tempore

American  

Or president pro tem

noun

U.S. Government.

1. a senator, usually a senior member of the majority party, who is chosen to preside over the Senate in the absence of the vice president.

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Example Sentences

Still, there are plenty of even older members of Congress still serving who have not yet announced their retirements, including: Sen. Charles Grassley, the 92-year-old Iowa Republican and the current president pro tempore of the Senate; Kentucky Republican Rep. Hal Rogers, 87; California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters, 87; Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, 84; and Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, 76, to name a few.

From MarketWatch

“In just the last decade, cap-and-trade has invested billions of dollars in projects by holding polluters accountable — helping clean our air, protect public health and propel new careers,” the governor said in a joint statement with Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas when they announced their intention to reauthorize the program in April.

From Los Angeles Times

The president pro tempore of the Senate, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, is 91, and third in line for succession to the presidency.

From Salon

Atkins, a former state Senate president pro tempore, former Assembly speaker and the only gay major candidate in the governor’s race, said in an interview that she’s “mindful that as a woman and as a member of the gay community, what I do matters.”

From Los Angeles Times

The Byrd Rules are not actually enforced by the parliamentarian but rather enforced by the presiding officer of the Senate, which is either the president of the Senate or the president pro tempore of the Senate.

From Salon