Legal Definitions - pro tem

The term pro tem is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase pro tempore, which means "for the time being" or "temporarily." In a legal or formal context, it indicates that an individual is serving in a particular role or position on a temporary basis, rather than permanently. This temporary appointment allows for the continuation of duties when the regular officeholder is unavailable, absent, or when a permanent replacement has not yet been selected.

Here are some examples illustrating the use of "pro tem":

• Corporate Board Meeting: Imagine a company's Board of Directors is scheduled for a crucial meeting, but the regular Board Chairperson suddenly falls ill and cannot attend. To ensure the meeting can proceed effectively, the board members might vote to appoint one of their colleagues as the Chairperson pro tem for that specific meeting.

  This illustrates pro tem because the appointed board member temporarily assumes the leadership role solely for that meeting, stepping in for the absent permanent chair. Their authority as chair is limited to that specific, temporary instance.

• Legislative Committee: A city council might have various subcommittees, each with a designated leader. If the regular chair of the "Urban Planning Committee" needs to take an extended leave of absence for personal reasons, the council might appoint another committee member to serve as the Acting Chair pro tem until the permanent chair returns or a new one is appointed.

  Here, pro tem signifies that the appointed member is temporarily fulfilling the duties of the committee chair. They have the authority to lead meetings and oversee committee work, but only for the duration of the permanent chair's absence, highlighting the temporary nature of their appointment.

• University Department Leadership: Consider a university department where the permanent Department Head is granted a sabbatical for a full academic year to conduct research. To maintain continuous leadership and administration, the university might appoint a senior professor from within the department to serve as the Department Head pro tem for that academic year.

  This example demonstrates pro tem because the senior professor steps into the leadership role temporarily, managing the department's operations, faculty, and students only until the permanent Department Head returns from their sabbatical. Their tenure in the position is explicitly "for the time being."