Very Unlikely Constitutional Scenario

[hawkeye59]

What would happen if the Senate had 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans, and the Vice Presidency was vacant? Who would get the majority?

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Rock-paper-scissors.

Kidding. No idea.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Something similar happened before in the 62nd Congress back in the days before being PPT was seen as just a sinecure that automatically went to the longest serving member of the majority party.  The Senate was split between conservative Republicans, progressive Republicans, and Democrats and no one could obtain a majority.  They eventually settled on rotating the post among the candidates, with Augustus O. Bacon (D-GA) and Jacob H. Gallinger (R-NH) being the two main holders.

This started before the death of Vice President Sherman but continued after it.  Not a major problem since under the law for presidential succession at the time, next in line was Secretary of State Knox, not the PPT.

[Barnes]

If the Vice Presidency was left vacant after the orginization already took place, then it'd probably remain as is.  Look at the Senate between November 2002 and January 2003, techincally, the Republcians regained their majority, but let the Democrats remain in charge until after the election.

Of course, the Vice Presidency wouldn't stay vacant for that long because of the 25th Amendment.

[J. J.]

I'm wondering if they could choose a non-senator, like the Senate Parliamentarian or a former President or Vice President.