<P> Formerly , the vice president would preside regularly over Senate proceedings , but in modern times , the vice president rarely presides over day - to - day matters in the Senate ; in their place , the Senate chooses a President pro tempore ( or `` president for a time '' ) to preside in the vice president 's absence ; the Senate normally selects the longest - serving senator in the majority party . The President pro tempore has the power to appoint any other senator to preside , and in practice junior senators from the majority party are assigned the task of presiding over the Senate at most times . </P>
<P> Formerly , the vice president would preside regularly over Senate proceedings , but in modern times , the vice president rarely presides over day - to - day matters in the Senate ; in their place , the Senate chooses a President pro tempore ( or `` president for a time '' ) to preside in the vice president 's absence ; the Senate normally selects the longest - serving senator in the majority party . The President pro tempore has the power to appoint any other senator to preside , and in practice junior senators from the majority party are assigned the task of presiding over the Senate at most times . </P>
who takes the vice president 's place in senate
who takes the vice president 's place in senate
a President pro tempore
a President pro tempore