President of the Senate of Spain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids President of the Senate |
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Coat of Arms of the Senate of Spain
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_Premio_%E2%80%9CMujer_del_A%C3%B1o%E2%80%9D_concedido_por_Madrid_Diario_(34678124742)_2017_(cropped).jpg) Pedro Rollán since 17 August 2023 |
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| Senate of Spain | |
| Style | The Most Excellent |
| Seat | Palacio del Senado, Madrid |
| Appointer | Senate |
| Term length | Four years, renewable |
| Constituting instrument | Spanish Constitution |
| Formation | 16 April 1834 |
| First holder | Francisco Javier Castaños, 1st Duke of Bailén |
| Deputy | Vice Presidents |
| Salary | €177,000 annually |
The President of the Senate is the leader of the Spanish Senate. The Senate is like the "upper house" of Spain's parliament, called the Cortes Generales. This position is very important in Spain. It is the fourth most powerful role after the King, the Prime Minister, and the President of the Congress of Deputies. The President is chosen by the senators themselves. If the President cannot do their job, the Vice Presidents step in.
Even though the President of the Senate shares power with the President of the Congress, the Congress leader usually takes the main role. This is because the Spanish system gives more power to the Congress. The current President is Pedro Rollán. He became President on August 17, 2023. He is a member of the Popular Parliamentary Group and represents Madrid.
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What the President Does
The President of the Senate has many important jobs. They make sure the Senate runs smoothly.
- They are the main speaker and representative of the Senate.
- They call and lead Senate meetings. They also keep discussions in order.
- They can call and lead any Senate committee meeting.
- They announce what will be discussed in Senate meetings.
- They communicate with the Spanish government and other important groups.
- They sign official messages from the Senate.
- They explain the Senate's rules.
- They help fill any gaps in the rules.
- They make sure everyone follows the rules and acts respectfully.
- They handle rules about how senators behave.
- They also do other tasks given by the Spanish Constitution and laws.
How the President is Chosen
The President of the Senate is elected after a general election. They can also be chosen if the previous President steps down.
The Voting Process
To become President, a candidate needs an absolute majority of votes. This means more than half of all senators must vote for them. If no one gets an absolute majority in the first vote, a second vote happens right away. In the second vote, a candidate only needs a simple majority. This means they just need more "yes" votes than "no" votes. Senators can vote for anyone they want. However, senators from the main political parties usually vote for a candidate chosen by their party.
When the Term Ends
A President's term ends if they pass away, resign, stop being a senator, or if the Senate is dissolved for a new election.
Vice Presidents
The Senate also has two Vice Presidents. They are chosen during the same meeting as the President. The Vice Presidents do not need an absolute majority. The two candidates with the most votes become Vice Presidents.
Their Role
The main job of the Vice Presidents is to take over if the President is not available. They step in if the President is absent or cannot do their duties.
| Order | Name | Term start | Group | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st |  |
Javier Maroto | 17 August 2023 | People's Group in the Senate | |
| 2nd | .jpg) |
Guillermo Fernández Vara | 17 August 2023 | Socialist Parliamentary Group | |
History of the Presidents
The role of President of the Senate has a long history, almost 200 years old. It started in 1834. Back then, it was called the President of the House of Peers. Since 1834, 44 different people have served as President.
The very first President was the Duke of Bailén. He served for 60 days. The shortest time anyone served was the Marquess of Miraflores, who was President for only nine days in August 1836. The longest-serving President was Javier Rojo, who held the position for over seven years. Many presidents have served more than once. The Marquess of Miraflores and Eugenio Montero Ríos each served five times.
The first woman to become President was Esperanza Aguirre. She served from 1999 to 2002. The current President is Pedro Rollán.
See also
In Spanish: Presidente del Senado de España para niños
