The Pro Tempore Currently, Robert C. Byrd
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Yes, but if the Vice president cannot attend, the president pro tempore takes over.
The President pro tempore is the second highest ranking official of the United States Senate . He is a senator who is elected to his position by the Senate.In actual practice it is not unusual for the vice-president and pro temp to both be absent. In that case another senator or, I think, one of the staff serves as time-keeper and keeps track of who has the floor.
The Vice President is President of the Senate and has the power to break a tie on votes in the Senate. The Vice President is also the successor to the Presidency if the President cannot continue serving in office. Vice Presidents have become more involved and more powerful in recent years. They serve as close advisers to the president and often bolster the presidents credentials because of their previous experience in government.
It is also the duty of the vice president to preside over the Senate.
If there is no president, the vice president takes over. As of 2014, the vice president of the United States is Joe Biden.