JD Vance is the President of the Senate

That’s why Trump didn’t meddle.

They either move his agenda amor JD is there day in and day out moving the agenda.


Hell, what else does the VP have to do every day?

If Thune wants to tie good legislation that Trump supports up in committee, Vance can push it forward without him. I like it.

It could backfire on the Republicans some day in the future, but I'm of the opinion, let's play by the rules the founding fathers created and see where we end up. It's got to be better than these back room deals and lies.

Now if we could just get rid of the 17th Amendment!

Well I feel dumb now. I never knew this or remember learning it in school.

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but the leadership vote for Thune is just a figure head spokesmen role.

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This is inaccurate.

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Working with the committee chairs and ranking members, the majority leader schedules business on the floor by calling bills from the calendar and keeps members of his or her caucus advised about the daily legislative program. In consultation with the minority leader, the majority leader fashions unanimous consent agreements by which the Senate may limit the amount of time for debate on a measure and divide that time between the parties.

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The position of party floor leader is not included in the Constitution. It evolved gradually in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The position developed separately within each of the major party conferences, with the conference chairs gradually assuming the functions associated with modern day floor leaders well before creation of the title itself. By the 1910s, both parties were electing conference chairs who acted as floor leaders, and by the 1920s, these leaders were exercising the full array of responsibilities associated with modern floor leadership.

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Thune was technically elected President por tempore

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This is also inaccurate.

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Since the mid-20th century, tradition has dictated that the senior member of the majority party serve as president pro tempore.

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He is the President of the Senate.

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Which carries very little power beyond breaking ties.

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In addition to casting the tie-breaking vote when the Senate is divided equally, the President of the Senate also, among other things, conducts the electoral count and attests that an enrolled bill has been passed by the Senate. By affixing his or her signatures to an enrolled bill the President of the Senate along with the Speaker of the House indicates that the bill has passed Congress and is ready for presentment to the President.

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Since the mid-20th century, tradition has dictated that the senior member of the majority party serve as president pro tempore.

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Thune was just voted into the position as the senior member of the majority party. It doesn't matter what title is given to him by the Senate, what they call the vote, it's not a constitutional position. Just one written into the rules by the Senate. It doesn't override the Constitution. Thune is as of today, technically the President pro tempore, plus whatever title the Senate wants to call it.

The Constitution states the President pro tempore assumes the role of the President of the Senate in his absence. President of the Senate without question can preside over every single Senate session. There is no legale precedent that gives the party floor leader more power over the actual President of the Senate. Any Constitutional scholar will side with the Constitution over Senate rules.

I see your senate rules and raise you the constitution.

Here's a good read on the subject from a democrat.

substack

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Here's a good read on the subject from a democrat.

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A relevant passage

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The Standing Rules of the Senate give its presiding officer abundant power. But they do not require the Majority Leader to be that presiding officer. Delegation of priority recognition from the Vice President to the Majority Leader is not required by any written Rule of the Senate, or by any of its Standing Orders. As Vice Presidents took on greater executive duties, they simply began delegating the chair to chosen Senators. The Senate’s official history acknowledges that this “informal practice” crystalized into ongoing delegation to the Majority Leader in 1937, thus creating an “emperor without clothes.”

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So the Majority leader has the power but it doesn't have to be that way. Ok. My points still stand.

1. Thune isn't a "figure head spokesman"
2. Thune wasn't elected President pro tempore today
3. The President of the Senate has very little power today beyond breaking ties.