The dean of the United States Senate is an informal term for the
senator
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
with the longest continuous service, regardless of party affiliation. This is not an official position within the Senate, although customarily (since 1945) the longest-serving member of the majority party serves as
president pro tempore
A president pro tempore or speaker pro tempore is a constitutionally recognized officer of a legislative body who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer. The phrase ''pro tempore'' is Latin "for the time being". ...
.
The current dean is
Democratic Senator
Patrick Leahy of
Vermont. He has been in the Senate since 1975 and became dean in 2012 with the death in office of
Daniel Inouye
Daniel Ken Inouye ( ; September 7, 1924 – December 17, 2012) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States senator from Hawaii from 1963 until his death in 2012. Beginning in 1959, he was the first U.S. representative f ...
.
List of deans
Party deans
Democratic
Republican
Whig
National Republican
Democratic-Republican
Federalist
Pro-Administration
Anti-Administration
See also
*
Baby of the United States Senate
*
Oldest living United States president
In this list of presidents of the United States by age, the first table charts the age of each president of the United States at the time of presidential inauguration (first inauguration if elected to multiple and consecutive terms), upon leaving ...
*
Dean of the United States House of Representatives
*
List of members of the United States Congress by longevity of service
References
Senators of the United States{{USCongress
Dean
Dean
Senior legislators
United States Senate
Lists related to the United States Senate