The president was chosen from among the senators at its first sitting following a general election and whenever the office was vacant.
The president acted as a "referee", taking charge of debates to make sure that the senators could participate freely while keeping to the rules.
Each political party in the Senate elected a chief whip to run its affairs.
The presiding officers, the chief whips, and the leader of government business (the person appointed by the Cabinet to liaise with Parliament) together decided on the programme of work.
The Senate was abolished for the first time in 1980, with effect from 1 January 1981, during a process of constitutional reform, and replaced with the President's Council.