Who presides over the Senate?

• A. The Speaker of the House
• B. The Chief Justice
• C. The Vice President
• D. The President

Answer: (C)

The main idea is who leads the Senate. The Vice President holds the title of President of the Senate, and this role is the one that presides over Senate sessions. They can cast a tie-breaking vote when the chamber is evenly split on a measure. When the Vice President isn’t there, a President pro tempore usually takes over for daily proceedings, but that’s a temporary stand-in, not the regular presiding role. The Speaker of the House leads the House of Representatives, not the Senate. The Chief Justice heads the judiciary and only presides over impeachment trials in the Senate, not regular sessions. The President oversees the executive branch, not the Senate. So, the Vice President is the official who presides over the Senate.