They are the longest sitting member of the majority party of the senate
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Since 1890, the most senior senator in the majority party has generally been chosen to be president pro tempore; this tradition has been observed without interruption since 1949. During the Vice President's absence, the president pro tempore is empowered to preside over Senate sessions.Orrin Hatch, a Republican and senior senator from Utah, is the president pro tempore of the Senate, having assumed office in January 2015.
There are two different possible answers. Officially, the president pro tempore is to preside. However, that title is now used mainly as an honorific, given to the longest-serving Senator of the majority party. The president pro tempore has the power to appoint another Senator to act as presiding officer for a given day of Senate proceedings.
The President Pro-Tempore serves in the Senate. This person presides over the Senate when the Vice-President is not in attendance.
The Senate
The Pro Tempore Currently, Robert C. Byrd