Председатель Сената США

The Senate's President Pro Tempore

The Constitution requires the Senate to elect a president pro tempore to serve as presiding officer in the absence of the vice president. The president pro tempore is authorized to preside over the Senate, sign legislation, and issue the oath of office to new senators.
John J. Ingalls (KS) First President Pro Tempore John Langdon (NH) President Pro Tempore Thomas W. Ferry (MI)
John J. Ingalls John Langdon Thomas W. Ferry

For many years, the vice president routinely presided over the Senate, and presidents pro tempore were elected to serve only during the absence of the vice president. To give the office continuity, in 1890 the Senate established continuous terms for the president pro tempore. In his or her absence, the president pro tempore names other senators to perform the duties of the chair, allowing them to grow more accustomed to the Senate's rules and procedures. In the Senate's earlier years, it elected to the post senior members who had shown a particular knowledge of Senate rules and procedures. Since the mid-20th century, tradition has dictated that the position go to the senior member of the majority party. The Senate's president pro tempore also stands third in the line of presidential succession.
http://www.senate.gov/general/Features/pro_tem_display.htm


Strom Thurmond - 1st President pro tempore emeritus of the United States Senate, President pro tempore of the United States Senate

Стром Тэрмонд - Председатель Сената США (wikipedia)


Robert C. Byrd - President pro tempore of the United States Senate
Роберт Карлайл Бёрд - Председатель Сената США

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Note added at 14 mins (2011-04-07 07:28:59 GMT)
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Кстати, с 1890 г. должность не является временной (см. выше).