Democratic Caucus. In 1925, the Republicans (who were in the majority at the time) also adopted this language when Charles Curtis became the first (official) majority leader, although his immediate predecessor Henry Cabot Lodge is considered the first (unofficial) Senate majority leader. The United States Constitution designates the Vice President of the United States as president of the Senate. The Constitution also calls for a president pro tempore, to serve as the presiding officer when the president of the Senate (the vice president) is absent. In practice, neither the vice president nor the president pro tempore—customarily the most senior (longest-serving) senator in the majority party—actually presides over the Senate on a daily basis; that task is given to junior Senators of the majority party. Since the vice president may be of a different party from the majority and is not a Senate member subject to discipline, the rules of procedure of the Senate give the Vice President no power beyond the presiding role. For these reasons, it is the majority leader who, in practice, manages the Senate. This is in contrast to the House of Representatives, where the elected speaker of the House has a great deal of discretionary power and generally presides over votes on legislative bills. List of party leaders The Democratic Party first selected a leader in 1920. The Republican Party first formally designated a leader in 1925. See also Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives President pro tempore of the United States Senate Vice President of the United States (President of the United States Senate) Party divisions of United States Congresses List of political parties in the United States Notes References External links Majority and Minority Leaders and Party Whips, via Senate.gov Senate Republicans Senate Democrats Party Party leaders United States Senate United States Senate Lists related to the United States Senate