Most importantly, as the new Majority Leader, Schumer will totally control the Senate agenda and what issues come up for debate and vote. The Presiding Officer ALWAYS gives the Majority Leader priority in obtaining recognition to speak on the floor. While the Constitution designates the VP as “President of theSenate” and also calls for a President pro tem, to serve as Senate leader when the VP is not present, the latter task is ministerial and typically falls to one of the most junior members of the majority party.
Senate rules give the presiding officer very little power so it is the Majority Leader or his designee (Durbin of Illinois) who, in practice, will manage the Senate. This is in contrast to the House of Representatives, where the elected Speaker of the House (based on a vote of BOTH parties0 has a great deal of discretionary power.
Menu