the role of the president pro temp or of the senate is
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
The President pro tempore of the United States Senate ( also president pro tem ) is the second - highest - ranking official of the United States Senate . Article One , Section Three of the United States Constitution provides that the Vice President of the United States is , despite not being a U.S. Senator , the President of the Senate , and mandates that the Senate must choose a President pro tempore to act in the Vice President 's absence . Unlike the Vice President , the President pro tempore is an elected member of the Senate , able to speak or vote on any issue . Selected by the Senate at large , the President pro tempore has enjoyed many privileges and some limited powers . During the Vice President 's absence , the President pro tempore is empowered to preside over Senate sessions . In practice , neither the Vice President nor the President pro tempore usually presides ; instead , the duty of presiding officer is rotated among junior U.S. Senators of the majority party to give them experience in parliamentary procedure . 
The President pro tempore of the United States Senate ( also president pro tem ) is the second - highest - ranking official of the United States Senate . Article One , Section Three of the United States Constitution provides that the Vice President of the United States is , despite not being a U.S. Senator , the President of the Senate , and mandates that the Senate must choose a President pro tempore to act in the Vice President 's absence . Unlike the Vice President , the President pro tempore is an elected member of the Senate , able to speak or vote on any issue . Selected by the Senate at large , the President pro tempore has enjoyed many privileges and some limited powers . During the Vice President 's absence , the President pro tempore is empowered to preside over Senate sessions . In practice , neither the Vice President nor the President pro tempore usually presides ; instead , the duty of presiding officer is rotated among junior U.S. Senators of the majority party to give them experience in parliamentary procedure .
The President pro tempore of the United States Senate ( also president pro tem ) is the second - highest - ranking official of the United States Senate . During the Vice President 's absence , the President pro tempore is empowered to preside over Senate sessions .
The President pro tempore of the United States Senate ( also president pro tem ) is the second - highest - ranking official of the United States Senate . During the Vice President 's absence , the President pro tempore is empowered to preside over Senate sessions .