President Pro Tempore of the Kentucky Senate
Encyclopedia
President Pro Tempore of the Kentucky Senate was the title of highest ranking member of the Kentucky Senate
prior to enactment of a 1992 amendment to the Constitution of Kentucky.
Prior to the 1992 amendment of Section 83 of the Constitution of Kentucky the Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
was the Senate's presiding officer, but was rarely present. The President pro tempore of the Kentucky Senate - called the Senate President Pro Tem for short - acted as the de facto presiding officer. The President Pro Tem usually presided over the body and was the most influential member of that body.
The President Pro Tem was almost always chosen by the majority party from among their members, then elected on a party line vote.
After the 1992 amendment, the Lieutenant Governor was stripped of all duties relating to the Senate. A new office, President of the Kentucky Senate
, was created under amended Sections 84, 85, 86 and 87 of the Constitution of Kentucky; the President of the Kentucky Senate
was given power to preside over the Senate.
The last President pro tempore to serve as the highest ranking member of the Kentucky Senate
was John "Eck" Rose. He continued as President of the Kentucky Senate
once that office was established.
The office of President pro tempore continued in existence as, nominally, the second highest ranking position in the body, though as a practical matter the Majority Leader
usually wielded more influence and power in the chamber. Before and after the creation of the office of President of the Kentucky Senate
, the Senate President pro tempore served as a member of the Legislative Research Commission
.
Kentucky Senate
The Kentucky Senate is the upper house of the Kentucky General Assembly. The Kentucky Senate is composed of 38 members elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. There are no term limits for Kentucky Senators...
prior to enactment of a 1992 amendment to the Constitution of Kentucky.
Prior to the 1992 amendment of Section 83 of the Constitution of Kentucky the Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
The office of lieutenant governor of Kentucky has existed under the last three of Kentucky's four constitutions, beginning in 1797. The lieutenant governor serves as governor of Kentucky under circumstances similar to the Vice President of the United States assuming the powers of the presidency...
was the Senate's presiding officer, but was rarely present. The President pro tempore of the Kentucky Senate - called the Senate President Pro Tem for short - acted as the de facto presiding officer. The President Pro Tem usually presided over the body and was the most influential member of that body.
The President Pro Tem was almost always chosen by the majority party from among their members, then elected on a party line vote.
After the 1992 amendment, the Lieutenant Governor was stripped of all duties relating to the Senate. A new office, President of the Kentucky Senate
President of the Kentucky Senate
President of the Kentucky Senate is an office created by a 1992 amendment to the Constitution of Kentucky. The President of the Senate is the highest ranking officer of that body and presides over the Senate.-History of the office:...
, was created under amended Sections 84, 85, 86 and 87 of the Constitution of Kentucky; the President of the Kentucky Senate
President of the Kentucky Senate
President of the Kentucky Senate is an office created by a 1992 amendment to the Constitution of Kentucky. The President of the Senate is the highest ranking officer of that body and presides over the Senate.-History of the office:...
was given power to preside over the Senate.
The last President pro tempore to serve as the highest ranking member of the Kentucky Senate
Kentucky Senate
The Kentucky Senate is the upper house of the Kentucky General Assembly. The Kentucky Senate is composed of 38 members elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. There are no term limits for Kentucky Senators...
was John "Eck" Rose. He continued as President of the Kentucky Senate
President of the Kentucky Senate
President of the Kentucky Senate is an office created by a 1992 amendment to the Constitution of Kentucky. The President of the Senate is the highest ranking officer of that body and presides over the Senate.-History of the office:...
once that office was established.
The office of President pro tempore continued in existence as, nominally, the second highest ranking position in the body, though as a practical matter the Majority Leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
usually wielded more influence and power in the chamber. Before and after the creation of the office of President of the Kentucky Senate
President of the Kentucky Senate
President of the Kentucky Senate is an office created by a 1992 amendment to the Constitution of Kentucky. The President of the Senate is the highest ranking officer of that body and presides over the Senate.-History of the office:...
, the Senate President pro tempore served as a member of the Legislative Research Commission
Legislative Research Commission
The Legislative Research Commission is an agency of Kentucky state government that supports the state legislature, the Kentucky General Assembly.The LRC was originally created in 1948 with the Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky as its head....
.
See also
- Kentucky General AssemblyKentucky General AssemblyThe Kentucky General Assembly, also called the Kentucky Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Kentucky.The General Assembly meets annually in the state capitol building in Frankfort, Kentucky, convening on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January...
- Kentucky SenateKentucky SenateThe Kentucky Senate is the upper house of the Kentucky General Assembly. The Kentucky Senate is composed of 38 members elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. There are no term limits for Kentucky Senators...
- President of the Kentucky SenatePresident of the Kentucky SenatePresident of the Kentucky Senate is an office created by a 1992 amendment to the Constitution of Kentucky. The President of the Senate is the highest ranking officer of that body and presides over the Senate.-History of the office:...
- Lieutenant Governor of KentuckyLieutenant Governor of KentuckyThe office of lieutenant governor of Kentucky has existed under the last three of Kentucky's four constitutions, beginning in 1797. The lieutenant governor serves as governor of Kentucky under circumstances similar to the Vice President of the United States assuming the powers of the presidency...
- President of the SenatePresident of the SenateThe President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate, and is the speaker of other assemblies.The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's succession for its top executive office: for example, the President of the Senate of Nigeria is second in line...
- Lawrence WetherbyLawrence WetherbyLawerence Winchester Wetherby was a politician from the US state of Kentucky. After graduating from the University of Louisville, he rose through the judicial system of Jefferson County and was elected lieutenant governor in 1947, serving under Governor Earle C. Clements...
- Katie Kratz StineKatie Kratz StineKatie Kratz Stine is a Republican member of the Kentucky Senate representing Campbell and Pendleton Counties as State Senator from the 24th Senate District since 1999. She serves as the President Pro Tem of the Kentucky State Senate....