Leader of the Government in the Senate (Georgeland)

In Georgeland politics, the Leader of the Government in the Senate is the most senior member of the government who sits in the Senate of Georgeland. The position exists by convention only, and was not paid until 1964. Indeed, prior to 1924 the position was not recognised at all under standing orders.

The position is always held by a Cabinet minister who usually, but not always, also holds a senior ministerial portfolio. The only Leader in recent years who was not in charge of a department was John Saunderson, who was sacked as Attorney-General in 1997 but retained his leadership because the position was elected and he had the confidence of his party senators. Saunderson served in the cabinet without a portfolio until he resigned in 1999.

The title is held by the leader of the senators from the governing party, regardless of whether or not that party has a majority in the Senate. The Leader is assisted by a Deputy Leader and a Manager of Senate Business. His or her opposition equivilant is the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.

The position is either appointed or elected, depending on the party. The Conservative Party of Georgeland and Liberal Democratic Party elect their Senate leadership, with all senators voting. The Liberal Democrats, however, had their Senate leaders appointed by the overall leader of the party from 2010 until 2019, when the practice of electing them was re-established.

Under normal circumstances, the position is given to the Senate leader of the governing party, or from the largest party in the governing coalition, in the same way the Prime Minister is leader of the largest governing party. In 2019, Dr Ryan Stone was chosen to fill the position by a joint ballot of both coalition parties, the Georgeland Alliance and Reform, even though Reform has fewer Senators and MPs than Reform. This was because Stone was leader of Reform and considered himself ineligible to become Deputy Prime Minister (although there is no constitutional reason for this to be the case). Senator Stone has been Leader of the Government of the Senate since 1 July 2019.