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ARTICLE · 15 APRIL 2024

Senate Leader

Each party's chief spokesperson and coordinator of legislative strategies and priorities in the Senate.

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector

Each party's chief spokesperson and coordinator of legislative strategies and priorities in the Senate.

The Natural

The Constitution does not establish leader positions in the Senate. The role of leader is separate from the Constitutionally required Senate president pro tempore, who has the responsibility for presiding over the Senate in the absence of the vice president. The parties did not formalize leader roles until the dawn of the 20th century. Senate Democrats began electing leaders in 1889, and Republicans followed in 1913.

Today, leaders are elected by a majority of their respective caucuses via secret balloting. The Democrats call their leader the "Chairman of the Conference," while the GOP calls theirs the "Republican Leader." Each caucus also chooses a whip, who is responsible for ensuring their members are present for votes and for voting in line with their party.

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