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| | President pro tempore of the United States Senate - Open Encyclopedia (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-10) |
 | | The United States Senate, according to the United States Constitution, (Article I), is required to choose a President Pro Tempore (or, "president for a time," often shortened to President Pro Tem), who presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President. |
 | | In 1945, the 79th Congress instituted the custom of giving the position to the longest-serving Senator from the majority party, which has prevailed since. |
 | | Prior to the shift of James Jeffords from Republican to Independent in May 2001, which shifted control of the Senate from the Republican to the Democratic Party, the office was held by J. |
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