<P> The current leaders are long - time Senators Mitch McConnell (R) from Kentucky and Chuck Schumer (D) from New York . The current Assistant Leaders / Whips are long - time Senators John Cornyn (R) from Texas and Dick Durbin (D) from Illinois . </P> <P> The Democrats began the practice of electing floor leaders in 1920 while they were in the minority . John W. Kern was a Democratic Senator from Indiana . While the title was not official, he is considered to be the first Senate party leader from 1913 through 1917 (and in turn, the first Senate Democratic Leader), while serving concurrently as Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus . In 1925 the majority (at the time) Republicans also adopted this language when Charles Curtis became the first (official) Majority Leader, although his immediate predecessor Henry Cabot Lodge is considered the first (unofficial) Senate Majority Leader . </P> <P> The Constitution designates the Vice President of the United States as President of the United States Senate . The Constitution also calls for a President pro tempore to serve as the leader of the body when the President of the Senate (the Vice President) is absent . In practice, neither the Vice President nor the President pro tempore--customarily the most senior (longest - serving) Senator in the majority party--actually presides over the Senate on a daily basis; that task is given to junior Senators of the majority party . Since the Vice President may be of a different party than the majority and is not a member subject to discipline, the rules of procedure of the Senate give the presiding officer very little power and none beyond the presiding role . For these reasons, it is the Majority Leader who, in practice, manages the Senate . This is in contrast to the House of Representatives where the elected Speaker of the House has a great deal of discretionary power and generally presides over votes on bills . </P> <P> The Democratic Party first selected a leader in 1920 . The Republican Party first formally designated a leader in 1925 . </P>

The official head of the senate is the