Rhode Island Constitution|Section 2.

                                                
Section 2. Lieutenant governor to be presiding officer 
	until 2003. -- The lieutenant governor shall preside in the senate and in 
	grand committee until 2003. Commencing in 2003, the senate shall elect its 
	president, who shall preside in the senate and in grand committee, as well 
	as its secretary and other officers from among its members and shall elect 
	its clerks. The senior member from the city of Newport, if any be present, 
	shall preside in the organization of the senate.