Who is Mr. President and why?

Asked by mazingerz88 (29260

) August 2nd, 2012

Pardon my ignorance but when I listen to the radio and hear politicians speak in an assembly and argue their case, in the Senate and House of Representatives both, they directly address their statements to someone they call, Mr. President.

Who is this person and what is the history and significance of his position. What does he do? Sometimes I feel, why don’t just the people’s representatives address the people themselves, even if we’re not there?

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5 Answers

If you are talking about the Senate, I would assume that “Mr. President” refers to the president pro tempore.

Fly (8726

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Under the U.S. constitution, the President of the Senate is the Vice-President of the United States. In practice, someone else (a party hack) usually presides and I think whoever that is gets to be called president.

bolwerk (10352

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Are you cereal?

Trillian (21153

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“Mr. President” in the context of a legislative body is the person Presiding over the body. In the US Senate it is the Vice President or the Vice President Pro Tempore.

In the House the Speaker is referred to as Madam Speaker, but if she is not present, the Chair is considered the President.

zenvelo (39548

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