What role does the president do in the senate and why are they important?

The President of the Senate sits in a large red chair.

The President of the Senate

David Foote/DPS Auspic

The President of the Senate

The President of the Senate sits in a large red chair.

David Foote/DPS Auspic

Description

The President of the Senate sits in a large, red chair on an elevated platform in the Senate. The President is a senator who has been picked to run the meetings in the Senate. The President’s chair faces the U-shaped seating of the other senators. From here, the President can see and hear everything that happens, and everyone in the Senate can see the President.

Permission should be sought from DPS AUSPIC for third-party or commercial uses of this image. To contact DPS AUSPIC email: auspic@aph.gov.au or phone: 02 6277 3342.

The President of the Senate is a senator who is chosen by all the other senators to be the Presiding Officer. This means that in addition to representing their state or territory, the President is responsible for running the meetings of the Senate.

The President has several responsibilities including:

  • running meetings of the Senate, much like a chairperson runs a meeting
  • making sure the rules of the Senate, known as the standing orders, are obeyed
  • participating in special ceremonial occasions, such as the opening of Parliament
  • overall responsibility for the Department of the Senate.