who is the preceding officer of the senate
Presiding Officer of the United States Senate The Presiding Officer of the United States Senate is the person who presides over the United States Senate and is charged with maintaining order and decorum, recognizing members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices, and precedents. Senate presiding officer is a role, not an actual office. The actual role is usually performed by one of three officials: the Vice President of the United States, an elected United States Senator, or the Chief Justice of the United States (but the last only in special cases). Outside the constitutionally mandated roles, the actual appointment of a person to do the job of presiding over the Senate as a body is governed by Rule I of the Standing Rules of the United States Senate.