• helps the speaker or president develop the calendar; Senate President • monitors committee work to ensure a steady fl ow of bills The Legislative Services Division for fl oor debate; presents . . . The Senate president is elected by a majority of senators voting • helps the presiding offi cer to calendar bills; for the offi ce to serve as chief offi cer of the Senate and as party • is the lead speaker for the majority party in fl oor debate; leader. The president: • helps the speaker or president with program development, • may administer the oath of offi ce to senators and to offi cers policy formation, and policy decisions; and employees of the Senate; • presides over majority caucus meetings. • is responsible for preserving order and decorum in the Senate chamber; Minority Leaders • presides over Senate proceedings and recognizes members who wish to speak on the fl oor; The minority leader is the leader of the party with the second • makes initial rulings on questions of procedure; most members. A minority leader is elected for each chamber • determines who will preside during second reading of bills by the respective party caucuses. The minority leader: when the Senate convenes as a Committee of the Whole; • develops the minority position; • approves the calendar for each legislative day; • negotiates with the majority party; • assigns all bills to standing committees; • directs minority caucus activities on the fl oor; • serves as an ex offi cio member of all standing committees; • directs fl oor activity for the minority party; • appoints conference committee members; A Guide to the Roles • leads fl oor debate for the minority party. • controls access to the Senate fl oor, including media access and Responsibilities and placement; • has general control over room assignments for members Whips of Legislative Leaders and staff. A majority and a minority whip are elected for each chamber President Pro Tempore by their respective party caucuses to assist their respective leaders. The whip is the agent through whom the party machinery works to infl uence the business of the legislative The president pro tempore is elected by a majority of Senate body. The whip: members voting for the offi ce. The president pro tem: • generally communicates the majority position; • serves as president of the Senate during the absence of the • ensures that party members are present for important votes; president; • counts votes (and may arrange pairing). • may administer the oath of offi ce to senators and to offi cers and employees of the Senate. Published by Majority Leaders Montana Legislative Services Division P.O. Box 201706, Room 110, State Capitol October 2008 The majority leader is the leader of the majority party (party Helena, MT 59620-1706 with the most members). One is elected for each chamber by (406) 444-3064 each party caucus. The majority leader: Fax: (406) 444-3036 • schedule legislative proceedings; Each leader has specifi c responsibilities that are enumerated Good Leadership Is Key • preside effectively over proceedings; in the Montana Constitution, Montana Code Annotated, and • use legislative rules to expedite decisionmaking. Joint, House, and Senate Rules. Other resources include Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure and the National Leadership is a key ingredient to a successful Legislature. Scheduling. Legislative leaders are responsible for scheduling Conference of State Legislatures. Serving as a legislative leader is tough and challenging, but it legislation for fl oor action and otherwise planning the also can be very rewarding. legislative workload. Dividing the work among other leaders Speaker of the House can be an effective strategy. Regular leadership meetings and Every legislator has a responsibility to represent constituents close working relationships with committee presiding offi cers and promote good public policy. But the role of the leader goes The speaker is elected by a majority of House members voting may also help to keep proceedings running smoothly. even farther: it reaches across the entire lawmaking institution for the offi ce. The speaker serves as the chief offi cer of the – its procedures, membership, Policy Guidance. The task of policy management requires House and as party leader. The speaker: staff, facilities, and image. a leader to take an active role in setting legislative priorities • may administer the oath of offi ce to representatives and to Good legislative No other lawmaker is vested and guiding the policy process through committee operations, offi cers and employees of the House; leaders can bolster with the same perspective caucus deliberations, and staff organization. To ensure • is responsible for preserving order and decorum; the Legislature’s of, or responsibility for, the consistency in state policy, a leader needs clear foresight and a • presides over House proceedings and recognizes members effectiveness, build Legislature. working understanding of the budget process. who wish to speak on the fl oor; • makes initial rulings on questions of procedure; loyalty among Good leaders can bolster the Bipartisan Relations. These are important to the maintenance • determines who will preside during second reading of bills its members, and Legislature’s effectiveness, of the institution and the effective use of the deliberative when the House convenes as a Committee of the Whole; build loyalty among its process. Leaders must respond to members’ needs by fostering enhance its image. • serves as an ex offi cio member of all standing committees; members, and enhance its communication, handling requests for cosponsorship or • appoints House members to standing, select, and image. They can affect assigning members’ legislation to certain committees, and conference committees, taking into consideration the the future of the Legislature and the state by fostering the providing certain resources, such as offi ce space. recommendations of the minority leader for appointment of development of potential new leaders. Leaders are best-served by maintaining effective working minority members and vice chairs; relationships with others outside the Legislature, too. • decides how many members from each party will sit on the A Leader’s Role These include the governor, staff of state agencies, media Rules Committee (each party appoints its own members); representatives, and constituents. Regularly scheduled • assigns bills to committees; • arranges the agenda for second and third reading of bills; Legislative leaders are spokespeople for the entire Legislature meetings with the various entities may help to alleviate • Supervises House employees. and for their party. They need to have a fi rm idea of where the miscommunication in the heat of battle. Legislature is going and how best to get it there. Staff Management. Leaders are responsible for delegating tasks to their respective legislative staff while maintaining a Speaker Pro Tempore Leaders are endowed with certain powers by the Montana reasonable “span of control.” The short timeframe available Constitution, state law, and legislative rules, but they often fi nd for hiring and training session staff is a consideration that The speaker pro tem is elected by a majority of House persuasion a more effective tool than force of will. requires timeliness and sensitivity to the responsibilities to the members voting for the offi ce. The speaker pro tem: institution. Legislative leaders have several tools at their disposal to help • serves as speaker during the absence of the speaker; them guide the deliberative process. They may: • may administer the oath of offi ce to representatives and to Parts of this text were adapted from “A Guide to Legislative Leadership,” offi cers and employees of the House; • assign members and legislation to committees; published by the National Conference of State Legislatures, 1981. • performs other duties as assigned by the speaker.