The Vice President Could Play a Larger Role

[MineralMan]

18. Not necessarily. A President pro tempore is a necessary

thing, since most VPs don't bother with presiding over the Senate. It's natural that the party in the majority would elects a member of their own party. Even when the Senate majority is with the president's party, a President pro tempore is elected.

However, if the VP is in the Senate Chambers, the VP presides. That's my point with this. All the VP has to do is show up and he or she is the presiding official, without question. That is written in the Constitution and no objection could even be raised. The Constitution trumps the Senate Rules every time.

The acting President of the Senate has broad parliamentary powers, since he or she acts as the chairperson of the proceedings. If you look at the actual Senate Rules, you can see just how much power the presiding officer has. Much of it cannot be challenged, since the acting President can rule without debate on a number of procedural things.

Procedure is everything in parliamentary bodies. Most of what happens in the Senate is procedural. Many things occur through suspension of the rules for specific purposes, and a lot of rules are not followed closely, unless there's a reason to do so. One of the chief powers of the presiding officer is to make sure the rules are followed, which is where there are ways to push issues.

For example, if there is not a quorum, the President or acting President can compel Senators to come to the chambers to make up a quorum. Quorum calls are often inconvenient for Senators, who would rather be doing something else. They are a powerful tool to require attendance during the session.

It's very complicated, really, but it's amazing what a presiding officer can manage while remaining within the rules.