<P> Under the Constitution , the Vice President serves as President of the Senate . He or she may vote in the Senate ( ex officio , for he or she is not an elected member of the Senate ) in the case of a tie , but is not required to . For much of the nation 's history the task of presiding over Senate sessions was one of the Vice President 's principal duties ( the other being to receive from the states the tally of electoral ballots cast for President and Vice President and to open the certificates `` in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives , '' so that the total votes could be counted ) . Since the 1950s , Vice Presidents have presided over few Senate debates . Instead , they have usually presided only on ceremonial occasions , such as swearing in new senators , joint sessions , or at times to announce the result of significant legislation or nomination , or when a tie vote on an important issue is anticipated . </P>
<P> Under the Constitution , the Vice President serves as President of the Senate . He or she may vote in the Senate ( ex officio , for he or she is not an elected member of the Senate ) in the case of a tie , but is not required to . For much of the nation 's history the task of presiding over Senate sessions was one of the Vice President 's principal duties ( the other being to receive from the states the tally of electoral ballots cast for President and Vice President and to open the certificates `` in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives , '' so that the total votes could be counted ) . Since the 1950s , Vice Presidents have presided over few Senate debates . Instead , they have usually presided only on ceremonial occasions , such as swearing in new senators , joint sessions , or at times to announce the result of significant legislation or nomination , or when a tie vote on an important issue is anticipated . </P>
who serves as president of the united states senate
who serves as president of the united states senate
the Vice President
the Vice President