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{{Short description|Latin phrase meaning "for the time being"}}
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{{redirect|Protem|the South African hamlet|Protem, Western Cape|the community in the United States|Protem, Missouri}}
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'''''Pro tempore''''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|p|r|oʊ|_|ˈ|t|ɛ|m|p|ə|r|i|,_|-|ˌ|r|eɪ}}), abbreviated '''''pro tem''''' or '''''p.t.''''',<ref>{{cite web|title=pro tempore|url=http://www.dictionary.com/browse/pro-tempore|publisher=Dictionary.com, LLC|access-date=20 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=pro tempore|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pro%20tempore|publisher=Merriam-Webster, Incorporated|access-date=20 December 2017}}</ref> is a [[List of Latin phrases|Latin phrase]] which best translates to 'for the time being' in English. This phrase is often used to describe a person who acts as a ''[[locum|locum tenens]]'' ('placeholder'). The phrase is also used to describe officers appointed on a temporary basis, prior to the formalisation of their appointments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oxford Learners Dictionaries |url=https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/pro-tem_1}}</ref>

==Mayor pro tem==
{{Main|Vice mayor}}
A common use of ''pro tempore'' in the [[United States]] is in [[municipal]]ities such as [[city|cities]] and [[town]]s with regard to the position of the [[mayor]]. In many cities, the [[city council]] appoints one of its members (often its president) to act as '''mayor ''pro tempore'' (''pro tem'')''' (or '''vice mayor''') in the absence of the actual mayor.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Harlow|first1=Keith|title=Job Description of a Deputy Mayor Pro Tem|url=http://work.chron.com/job-description-deputy-mayor-pro-tem-25918.html|website=Chron|publisher=[[Hearst Newspapers, LLC]]|access-date=20 December 2017}}</ref>

==Judge pro tem==
In judicial [[court]]s, attorneys that volunteer in proceedings are called "judge pro tem" or judge pro tempore, though they may be paid in some circumstances. They typically have to meet some basic criteria to qualify, and often serve as neutrals or mediators in alternative dispute resolution processes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Temporary Judge Program|url=http://www.lacourt.org/generalinfo/temporaryjudge/GI_TJ004.aspx|website=Superior Court of California|publisher=County of Los Angeles|access-date=20 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pennsylvania Bulletin |url=https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pabull?file=/secure/pabulletin/data/vol38/38-29/1317.html |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.pacodeandbulletin.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Judge Pro Tempore {{!}} Maricopa County Superior Courts |url=https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/court-resources/court-roles/judge-pro-tempore/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=superiorcourt.maricopa.gov |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Oregon Judicial Department : ProTem Judge Appointments Information and Application Instructions : Oregon State Courts : State of Oregon |url=https://www.courts.oregon.gov/courts/pages/pro-tem.aspx |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.courts.oregon.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=In the Court of Common Pleas, First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Trial Division, Civil, Docket No. 1 of 2016, In Re: Commerce Case Management Program (Revised) |url=https://www.courts.phila.gov/pdf/regs/2016/cp-aj-ad-01-2016.pdf}}</ref> Among other things, they can also serve as masters and interim judges.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ditzen |first=L. Stuart |date=November 27, 2004 |title=Civil courts in city hailed as model |work=Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref>

==Academic Leaders - President, Vice-president, Dean pro tem==
[[University|Universities]] sometimes appoint senior positions such as presidents, vice presidents or heads of faculties temporarily until ratified by a board of governors or senate committee. These positions are titled "President pro tempore", "Vice-President pro tempore" or "Dean pro tempore".<ref>{{cite web|title=Dean pro tem|url=https://news.ok.ubc.ca/exchange/2019/06/20/gino-dilabio-named-dean-pro-tem-for-the-irving-k-barber-school-of-arts-and-sciences/|website=The Exchange|date=20 June 2019 |publisher=The University of British Columbia|access-date=20 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Leadership Appointments|url=https://gazette.mun.ca/campus-and-community/leadership-appointments/|website=The Gazette|date=20 June 2019 |publisher=Memorial University of Newfoundland|access-date=7 March 2025}}</ref>

==In the US Congress==

The [[President pro tempore of the United States Senate]] presides over the [[United States Senate| senate]] when the [[Vice President of the United States]] is unable to. These two roles were established in [[Article One of the United States Constitution| Article One]], Section Three of the [[United States Constitution]]. The first to hold this position was [[John Langdon (politician)| John Langdon]] for four months in 1788; he also served in the same position for 13 months in 1792-93.

The [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives#Speaker pro tempore| Speaker pro tempore of the United States House of Representatives]] was a position created after 2001, and the first to hold the position was [[Patrick McHenry]] in October 2023.

==See also==
*''[[Ex tempore]]''

==References==
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[[Category:Latin legal terminology]]


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