President pro tempore of the United States Senate
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
President pro tempore of the United States Senate is, according to the Constitution, the fourth highest office in the United States and third in the presidential line of succession (behind the Vice President and the Speaker of the House).
Officially the Vice President is chairman of the Senate, but he is not a Senator. Since Carl T. Hayden (D-AZ) President pro tempore is the longest serving Senator from major Party. During V.P. absention or vacancy in his office, he presides over this House. Many people still regarded President pro tempore as de facto president of the Senate. During President Andrew Johnson's impeachment trial in 1868 president pro tempore Benjamin Wade was first in the line of succession, but no one president pro tempore succeeded presidency as of 2006.
Probably the most famous Presidents pro tempore were John Langdon (first in this office), David Rice Atchison (D-MO), Benjamin Wade (R-OH), Arthur Vandenberg (R-MI), Strom Thurmond (R-SC), and Robert Byrd (D-WV). The current President pro tempore is Ted Stevens (R-AK), serving since 1968.