Who controlled the Senate in 2013?

The Senate had a Democratic majority, while the House had a Republican majority. This was the last time Democrats held control of the Senate until the 117th Congress in 2021.

How many members are needed for one party to have a majority in the House?

First, a representative sponsors a bill. The bill is then assigned to a committee for study. If released by the committee, the bill is put on a calendar to be voted on, debated or amended. If the bill passes by simple majority (218 of 435), the bill moves to the Senate.

Why is the Hastert Rule important?

The rule keeps the minority party from passing bills with the assistance of a minority of majority party members. Speakers have at times broken the Hastert Rule and allowed votes to be scheduled on legislation that lacked majority support within the Speaker’s own party.

What is nuclear option Senate?

In the United States Senate, the nuclear option is a parliamentary procedure that allows the Senate to override a standing rule by a simple majority, rather than the two-thirds supermajority normally required to amend Senate rules.

What is the nuclear option in the Senate?

Senate goes for ‘nuclear option’. The Senate approved a historic rules change on Thursday by eliminating the use of the filibuster on all presidential nominees except those to the U.S. Supreme Court.

What does the nuclear option mean for Obama’s nominees?

Invoking the long-threatened “nuclear option” means that most of President Barack Obama’s judicial and executive branch nominees no longer need to clear a 60-vote threshold to reach the Senate floor and get an up-or-down vote.

What does Harry Reid’s nuclear option mean?

It’s just to gum up the works,” he said. ( PHOTOS: Harry Reid’s career) Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) used the nuclear option Thursday morning, meaning he called for a vote to change the Senate rules by a simple majority vote.

Does the Senate rule change affect Supreme Court nominations?

The rule change does not apply to Supreme Court nominations or to legislation. Individual senators will still be able to seize the floor for marathon speeches opposing nominees, as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) did in a nearly 13-hour session in March against the nomination of John Brennan as CIA director.