Committees; it was changed "to reflect more accurately the nature of the office in practice". The position is not provided for by the constitution, but instead by the Senate's standing orders – it was borrowed more or less directly from the colonial legislative councils. The deputy president's main tasks are to preside over committees of the whole and to serve as presiding officer when the President of the Senate is absent. List There have been 36 Deputy Presidents of the Senate, two of whom served multiple non-consecutive terms. See also Clerk of the Australian Senate References External links The President of the Senate, Senate Brief No 6, March 2017 Political office-holders in Australia Australian Senate Australia