Why does the US Senate need 60 votes to pass something?

by gamman Posted 2009/12/17 00:15:04

54 votes
Read all 14 opinions
View Results and Demographics + View Demographics

Loading Demographics... Click an icon to see demographic results Display unknown and private
	Um, Mr. Gamman, it is as simple as this ....	48 votes	89%
	What have you been smoking dude?	3 votes	6%
	Yankees suck!	3 votes	6%

I keep hearing that the Senate doesn't have the 60 votes for the public option or for this item or that item. Doesn't 51 suffice to pass it? Is there something I am missing?

Add a comment above

kevracer 2009/12/17 00:18:12

Um, Mr. Gamman, it is as simple as this ....

+3
per the US senate website:

cloture - The only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter, and thereby overcome a filibuster. Under the cloture rule (Rule XXII), the Senate may limit consideration of a pending matter to 30 additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate, normally 60 votes
>> See Replies

More polls by gamman

dylan.sides.7 2012/09/22 02:08:20

Um, Mr. Gamman, it is as simple as this ....

It doesn't make any sense and is unconstitutional. I get breaking a filibuster, but when you're voting, there is no filibuster. When a vote is called, senators are voting. 51 should pass everything.

reply
montyw47 2012/04/26 02:56:19

Um, Mr. Gamman, it is as simple as this ....

Why the HELL does it take 60 votes for any meaningful bill to pass the senate? I know cloture is to stop a filibuster, but I don't think the Republicans have the time to talk in the senate while there PAC money to gather. We couldn't cut the sugar subsidy, oil co tax breaks etc. Very frustrated about the whole Congress situation!!!

reply
jitko 2009/12/18 03:33:00

Um, Mr. Gamman, it is as simple as this ....

Some things require more than a simple majority.

reply
Pablo 2009/12/17 03:04:49

Yankees suck!

.....Yankees Rule !
The Senate must have a 60 vote majority while the House only needs one more vote in the positive to pass a bill. If the House is tied, the VP, currently Joe Biden, gets to vote on the tie-breaker. It's part of the checks and balance of the leglislature.
Pablo

reply
gamman to Pablo 2009/12/17 16:26:23

51 would be a majority because there are 100 senators

reply
Pablo to gamman 2009/12/18 01:55:22

Not in the Senate. Only in the House is a single vote the majority.
Pablo

reply
i00wattz 2009/12/17 02:58:27

Um, Mr. Gamman, it is as simple as this ....

Read your old history books.

reply
gamman to i00wattz 2009/12/17 16:27:23

there aren't 100 senators in my old history books ;)
a majority is 51. the right answer would have the word cloture in it.

reply
Merl 2009/12/17 02:32:15

Um, Mr. Gamman, it is as simple as this ....

+1
It is part of parlimentary proceedure that moves a bill to cloture, The simple majority is used for legislation once it is out of conference.

reply
gamman to Merl 2009/12/17 16:27:55

+1
thank you for your articulate answer

reply
Traveling girl - stopping b... 2009/12/17 00:30:21

Um, Mr. Gamman, it is as simple as this ....

It's called following the Constitution not a take over from a dictatorship. We live in a Republic....ever heard of that?

reply
gamman to Traveli... 2009/12/17 00:32:09

i liked kevracer's answer much better.

reply
kevracer 2009/12/17 00:18:12

Um, Mr. Gamman, it is as simple as this ....

+3
per the US senate website:

cloture - The only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter, and thereby overcome a filibuster. Under the cloture rule (Rule XXII), the Senate may limit consideration of a pending matter to 30 additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate, normally 60 votes

reply
gamman to kevracer 2009/12/17 00:20:59

+1
thanks. i like smart people.

reply