PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

Vice- President Dick Cheney

       The president of the Senate, the presiding officer within the senate, is not actually a member of the Senate. The Constitution assigns this office to the Vice-President of the United States. The president  of the Senate occupies a much less powerful chair than the Speaker of the House. The president of the Senate does not have the usual powers of a presiding officer.

                         PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE

                                       Robert Byrd

       The Senate has another presiding officer in the       office of President Pro Tempore, who serves in the    Vice- Presidents absence. He or she is elected by the Senate itself and is always a leading member of the majority party. This is a very important member of the Senate. 

Thomas Daschle

       The floor leaders are legislative strategists.  They try to carry out the decisions of their parties caucuses and steer floor action to their particular parties' benefit. The majority leader's post in the more powerful in each house, for the obvious  reason that the majority party has more seats. 

Harry Reid

        The majority whips job is to assist the majority floor leader. He or she is, in effect, is an assistant floor leader. Each of them is chosen by the party caucus, almost always on the floor leaders recommendation. The job of a whip is to check with party members and advise the floor leader of the number of votes that can be counted on in any particular matter.

Trent Lott

Together with the presiding officer and the majority leader, the minority leader plans the order of business for the floor. He is a legislative strategist who tries to carry out decisions that would benefit his party's caucus.  His seat is less powerful than the minority leader because he has less seats.

Don Nickles

The minority whips job is to assist the minority floor leader. He or she is, in effect,  is an assistant floor leader. Each of them is chosen by the party caucus, almost always on the floor leaders recommendation. The job of a whip is to check with party members and advise the floor leader of the number of votes that can be counted on in any particular matter.