Philip Edward Berger is a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly

North Carolina General Assembly

The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...

 representing the state's twenty-sixth Senate district, including constituents in Guilford

Guilford County, North Carolina

Guilford County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. In 2010, the Census Bureau estimated the county's population to be 491,230. Its seat is Greensboro. Since 1938, an additional county court has been located in High Point, North Carolina, making Guilford one of only a handful...

 and Rockingham

Rockingham County, North Carolina

Rockingham County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 93,643. Its county seat is Wentworth.- History :The county was formed in 1785 from Guilford County...

 counties.

An attorney from Eden

Eden, North Carolina

Eden is a city in Rockingham County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 15,908 at the 2000 census. The city was incorporated in 1967 through the consolidation of three separate towns: Leaksville, Spray, and Draper....

, North Carolina, Berger was first elected to the North Carolina Senate

North Carolina Senate

The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...

 in 2000. He became minority (Republican) leader in 2004, and in 2010, he was selected by his fellow Republicans as their choice for the next Senate President Pro Tem

President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate

The President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate is the highest-ranking officer of one house of the North Carolina General Assembly. The President of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, but the President Pro-Tem actually holds most of the power and presides in the...

. Berger was officially elected president pro tem when the legislature opened on Jan. 26, 2011.

Berger was born in New Rochelle

New Rochelle, New York

New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...

, New York; he graduated from George Washington High School

George Washington High School (Danville, Virginia)

George Washington High School is a secondary school of Danville, Virginia. It is a member of the AAA Western Valley District. The school has approximately 2,000 students and 200 staff...

 in Danville

Danville, Virginia

Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...

, Virginia in 1970 and studied briefly at Danville Community College

Danville Community College

Danville Community College is one of the twenty-three two year colleges in the Virginia Community College System. It is located in Danville, Virginia. Unlike many of the other VCCS schools, it predates the formation of a statewide body for junior colleges. Its roots began in 1936 as Danville...

. Berger earned a bachelor's degree in sociology

Sociology

Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...

 from Averett College in 1980 and a law degree from Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...

in 1982, after which he entered law practice. He is married to Patricia Hays; they have three children and four grandchildren.