Questions tagged [senate-rules]

Questions related to the official or unofficial rules of any legislative body in a country which is formally known as a Senate. For the US Senate, combine with [united-states]

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How is Senator Tuberville able to block all military promotions?

It has been widely reported that Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville is somehow single-handedly holding up all military nominations and promotions in the US Senate: AP: Why a single senator is blocking ...
BradC's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
166 views

Motion to reconsider a definitive decision

In the United States Senate (and other bodies) there's a thing called the motion to reconsider, which is about taking a second vote on a matter the body has already voted on. In the Senate it's part ...
Gouvernathor's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
137 views

Can a discharge petition be used to advance judicial nominations during Senator Feinstein's absence?

Democrats hold a thin 11–10 majority in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator Dianne Feinstein is currently absent from the Senate due to health issues. Without her vote, the committee is deadlocked ...
n00p's user avatar
  • 161
1 vote
0 answers
61 views

Why does Sen. Schumer decide to vote against his cloture motion at the last minute? [duplicate]

Today, the Senate voted on cloture on a resolution related to the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Two republicans senators voted Yes, but apart from that it was along party lines (with ...
Gouvernathor's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
182 views

Why is 2 U.S. Code § 30b in the statutes at all?

2 U.S. Code § 30b specifies certain Senate procedures involving Senators objecting to proceedings. (It appears that the intent was to make it clear which Senator was doing the objecting.) There is a ...
D M's user avatar
  • 2,356
2 votes
2 answers
342 views

Why not require a three-fifths majority to pass a bill in the US Senate instead of using a filibuster?

From my reading on the filibuster, I get the impression that the filibuster in the US Senate today is equivalent to requiring a three-fifths majority. Why doesn't the Senate just change the rule to ...
atbug's user avatar
  • 139
5 votes
2 answers
222 views

What would happen in the Senate if the Majority party is divided in their election of Majority Leader?

Currently in the House the Republican party is divided, causing (so far) 8 failed votes for Speaker. My understanding is the House cannot do anything until a Speaker is chosen, so they will just keep ...
David K's user avatar
  • 320
2 votes
2 answers
278 views

Can the US Senate Organizing Resolution be adopted on a 50-49 vote?

A hypothetical scenario: The incoming US Senate is divided 50-49 with one Independent Senator. That Independent, let's say "she", has not committed to caucus with either party. Should she ...
Politank-Z's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
334 views

What makes the "Nuclear Option" in the US Senate a precedent that its chair has to uphold?

Let me first sum up what the nuclear option is, as far as I understand it : a cloture vote happens, carrying more than half of the votes but less than the required supermajority. Pursuant to the ...
Gouvernathor's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
92 views

How do congressional investigation committees maintain continuity after losing committee members?

Are there congressional rules on how to replace committee members who lose their congressional status? Is there precedent, and what was the impact/effect on the ongoing investigation, and the outcome ...
r13's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
252 views

Constitutional limits on the Standing Rules of the Senate

According to this comment by @RickSmith: "Congress may not 'ignore constitutional restraints or violate fundamental rights, and there should be a reasonable relation between the mode or method ...
Gouvernathor's user avatar
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18 votes
3 answers
5k views

Why would a Vice President cast a negative vote?

The Constitution allows for the Vice President to vote on an issue if the vote is equally divided. There have been a number of occasions when the Vice President has cast a negative vote, see here. Why ...
Viktor's user avatar
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23 votes
1 answer
3k views

When is the US Senate required to pass bills unanimously?

According to the BBC News website, the US senator Rand Paul has managed to delay approving financial aid package to Ukraine: Paul, who has historically opposed spending on foreign aid, refused to ...
Piotr Golacki's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
41 views

Does the US Senate need a majority of total members or members present to pass a vote? [duplicate]

Just curious. If the US Senate has a vote that's 48-47 with 5 absentees, does that pass, or what?
Joshua Snider's user avatar
21 votes
3 answers
4k views

"motion to reconsider is considered made and laid upon the table" & "Madam president... I note the absence of a quorum" What do these mean? Why funny?

In CNN's April 8, 2022 Applause erupts in Senate chamber after Brown Jackson is confirmed there is this little vignette between US Vice President Kamala Harris and the Senate Majority Leader Chuck ...
uhoh's user avatar
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30 votes
2 answers
3k views

Can the Senate confirm a SCOTUS nominee before the seat is vacant?

The media is reporting that Justice Stephen Breyer plans to retire at the end of this year's court term. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer issued the following statement regarding the confirmation ...
Panda's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
145 views

Does the US Senate have the equivalent procedure, to a no-confidence vote, for the Majority Leader? [duplicate]

This is in light of Sen. Manchin (D-WV)'s fairly unambiguous break with the Democratic party, in declaring firm opposition to the BBB bill. CONTEXT For practical purposes, Manchin was voting as a ...
Pete W's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
190 views

What new reconciliation powers has Schumer obtained?

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell just sent a letter to President Biden explaining why Senate Republicans don't intend to vote to raise the debt ceiling, which needs to be raised by October 18 to ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
2k views

Isn't 50 +1 not enough to increase the debt ceiling and avoid a government shutdown

Currently, the Senate is split 50/50 but the Democrats have the presidency or they have a slim majority in the Senate. My question is do the Democrats need a Republican vote to increase the debt ...
Node.JS's user avatar
  • 575
2 votes
1 answer
290 views

Can the vice president ask for a roll call in order to stop a pro-forma session

Youtube edutainer CGPGrey posted this video explaining at the linked timestamp, a pro-forma session of the Senate. He explains that the Senate can "take a recess" without officially doing so,...
user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
302 views

The next steps for S.51 Washington Statehood bill

The proposed Washington, D.C. Admission Act (S.51) would, if I understand it correctly, pave the way for the immediate election of two senators from the new Douglass Commonwealth state. In all ...
Arno's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
203 views

Would a member of Congress be able to legally cast a vote via Zoom if they were away?

This could be a good defense against coups because representatives and senators could vote on issues even if a violent group took over the Capitol.
The Mamba's user avatar
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19 votes
1 answer
2k views

How may the Sergeant at Arms "compel" an absent senator to attend?

According to the Rules of the Senate (VI.4) (emphasis mine): Whenever upon such roll call it shall be ascertained that a quorum is not present, a majority of the Senators present may direct the ...
Robert Columbia's user avatar
32 votes
1 answer
3k views

How many current US senators are NOT from political families?

Recently, I've read an interesting article about US political dynasties: It is perhaps not very surprising that so many children of politicians go into politics. After all, it’s daddy’s business. ...
user2501323's user avatar
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9 votes
2 answers
306 views

What parts of Biden’s proposals could be eligible for budget reconciliation?

President Biden addressed a joint session of congress on April 29 and proposed vast new federal social programs such as free community college and subsidized childcare for low-income and middle-class ...
user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
442 views

What was the one bill that Republicans filibustered in 2020?

Fox News correspondent John Roberts noted on Twitter that: After @POTUS @JoeBiden denounced the rampant abuse of the filibuster last year, we did some digging. Republicans used it once. Democrats ...
Panda's user avatar
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-2 votes
1 answer
316 views

What would happen if the filibuster rule was abolished in the current US Senate?

Active senators from each party at present: Republican - 50 Democratic - 48 Independent - 2 The Independent Senators often align with the Democrats, so many bills end up in 50-50 tie. Without ...
r13's user avatar
  • 2,458
4 votes
1 answer
293 views

How do you interpret a "Senate Executive Calendar"?

I am trying to figure out when Deb Haaland will take office as Secretary of the Interior. She was recommended by the committee, so it seems she's basically sure to be confirmed, but when exactly? I ...
Diogenes Creosote's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
378 views

Can a vote-o-rama continue indefinitely and how can it be ended?

Since yesterday, the Senate has been voting on a series of amendments on the coronavirus relief bill, in a process informally called vote-o-rama. The New York Times noted that it ends only "when ...
Panda's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
329 views

What was the original purpose of the reading aloud of a bill in the US Senate before voting; were there rules requiring anyone to listen?

Forbes' Senate Chamber Empties As Reading Of 628-Page Relief Bill Gets Underway begins Senators vanished from the U.S. Senate chamber on Thursday as clerks begin reading the upper chamber’s 628-page ...
uhoh's user avatar
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10 votes
2 answers
2k views

What happens if a Senate Committee is 50-50 split on a nominee?

I know when the Senate itself is split, the Vice President will cast the deciding vote. But in committee hearings where they're voting to approve Cabinet positions (Such as a Department of Security ...
Russ Wilkie's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
344 views

What is the deal with the U.S. Senate's Parliamentarian?

Recently the role of the Senate Parliamentarian has become a focal point in the upcoming 2021 COVID stimulus package. Specifically, the Senate Parliamentarian has ruled against allowing a $15 minimum ...
Cold Fish's user avatar
  • 181
1 vote
1 answer
174 views

Are there limits on how frequently budget reconciliation can be used to pass bills?

I've heard that it is difficult or impossible to use budget reconciliation more than once or a few times per fiscal year, but are there hard rules that limit the frequency of its use to pass Senate ...
DerekG's user avatar
  • 1,188
2 votes
2 answers
399 views

Are there legal penalties for lies (etc.) in a US Senate impeachment trial?

Suppose an impeachment of POTUS has progressed to the senate trial. And suppose that one of the representatives of one side or the other is shown to have lied, falsified evidence, covered up evidence, ...
puppetsock's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
1k views

What legal procedures apply to the impeachment?

It was just reported by CNN that 3 GOP senators (Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz and Mike Lee) met with Trump's defense team today. When asked if meeting with senators (which are jurors) during the trial was ...
Megaptera novaeangliae's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
176 views

Do senators have to attend an impeachment trial in order to be allowed to vote on the verdict?

If a senator has not attended the trial or was not paying attention while at the trial, can that senator still show up on the day of the vote on the verdict and cast a vote?
Jean Knowlton's user avatar
20 votes
1 answer
2k views

What would happen if Senators boycotted the Impeachment Vote

I know it would take a 2/3rds majority vote in the Senate to convict Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial. But what if a substantial number of Senators boycotted the trial, and declined to ...
Chris Sunami's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Why hasn't the Senate yet passed an organizing resolution for the 117th Congress?

I was perusing Graham shoots down request for Merrick Garland confirmation hearing Feb. 8, when I read Though Democrats have the Senate majority, Graham is still the Senate Judiciary Committee ...
Mawg says reinstate Monica's user avatar
49 votes
5 answers
8k views

What's the difference between a 51 seat majority and a 50 seat + VP "majority"?

The US Senate currently has a 50/50 split of Democratic (D) and Republican (R) caucus members. According to news reports, this has lead to "power sharing agreements" needing to be made ...
user551504's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
118 views

Committee Chairmanship Appointments

I had assumed there was some significance to Bernie Sanders becoming the Chair of the Budget Committee, but it appears to be an automatic assignment rather than a choice by the incoming administration....
Jontia's user avatar
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9 votes
1 answer
939 views

Why does the 50–50 Senate need a new organizing resolution before Democrats can take control of committee chairmanships?

Unlike the House of Representatives where its "rules package" expires at the end of each Congress, the Senate continues to operate on an existing organizing resolution from previous ...
Panda's user avatar
  • 46.6k
8 votes
1 answer
378 views

Is there a contingency if a power sharing agreement cannot be made?

As I'm sure many people know, the Senate is currently in negotiations for a power sharing agreement in a 50/50 body. The main sticking point being a commitment over the filibuster. As I understand ...
DoubtingThomas3005's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
573 views

Did the Founding Fathers consider creating something similar to the current filibuster?

In the US Senate, the current filibuster rules mean that, with a few specific exceptions, all Senate business requires an effective 60-vote super-majority to pass. Many people treat this as an ...
divibisan's user avatar
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13 votes
1 answer
1k views

How is the seniority of Senators decided when most factors are tied?

Senator-elect Raphael Warnock recently tweeted a photo with the caption: .@ossoff trying to explain how he gets to be the senior senator from Georgia. I'm wondering about this too. Since both ...
Panda's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
2k views

What are the dress code rules for the Houses of Congress

Question: Is the dress code policy for the Houses of Congress available publicly? If so, is there an official source such as a US .gov website or how might a citizen go about finding it? If not, has ...
The 'Bernie Sanders' Party's user avatar
16 votes
4 answers
2k views

Does a vice president retain their tie breaking vote in the Senate during an impeachment trial if it is the vice president being impeached?

If the vice president is the subject of an impeachment, does the vice president have a vote in the Senate trial of which they are the subject? Note: The constitution only mandates that the chief ...
Dougie Fuoco's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
218 views

Can the Senate Majority Leader reconvene the US Senate early during a recess?

It has been unclear as to how the Senate would be able to reconvene in order to convict/acquit Trump, or at least start his trial before 1 p.m. on January 20th, which is the date and time that will ...
John's user avatar
  • 355
5 votes
1 answer
292 views

Can the Senate put an in-progress impeachment trial on pause?

Background Mitch McConnell has released a statement stating that the impeachment trial will not begin until the next regular meeting following the receipt from the house: The House of Representatives ...
isakbob's user avatar
  • 5,487
12 votes
1 answer
1k views

When will Chuck Schumer become Majority Leader?

I'm not from the USA myself and I'm trying to understand the transfer of power following the Georgia Run-off elections for the senate. So far in my head I've got the following: Joe Biden is the ...
Matt Bartlett's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
147 views

Which aspects of US Senate structure 18th and 19th century can be seen as “concessions to the planter class” and to slavery?

From the recent interview of Adam Jentleson, former deputy chief of staff to Democratic Sen. Harry Reid by NPR reporter Audie Cornish Former Senator's Staffer On What Senate Might Do In Response To ...
uhoh's user avatar
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