<P> A casting vote is a vote which may be exercised (usually in addition to his or her normal vote as a member of the body, if he or she has one) by the presiding officer of a council or legislative body, or of any committee, to resolve a deadlock and which can be exercised only when such a deadlock exists . Examples of officers who hold casting votes are the Speaker of the British House of Commons and the President of the United States Senate (an ex-officio role of the Vice President of the United States). </P> <P> In some legislatures, a casting vote may be exercised however the presiding officer wishes . An example is the Vice President of the United States, who may exercise his casting vote in the Senate according to his party affiliation or according to his own personal beliefs . By virtue of the Vice President's casting vote, when the Senate as elected is equally divided between two parties, the Vice President's party is able to serve as the official majority party in the Senate . The exercise of the Vice President's casting vote has become increasingly rare throughout American history as the size of the Senate has grown from 26 to 100 and ties have become less probable . </P>

Who votes in case of a tie in the senate