Under normal circumstances, for any piece of legislation to pass the United States Senate, it must get more than a simple majority vote. Unlike in the House of Representatives, the rules and procedures of the Senate generally place no limits on debate; they should be able to talk forever. Despite this, in recent years both parties have been able to enact legislation on strict party lines with fewer than 60 senators in support. Download PDFInsight: What Is Budget Reconciliation?
Under normal circumstances, for any piece of legislation to pass the United States Senate, it must get more than a simple majority vote. Unlike in the House of Representatives, the rules and procedures of the Senate generally place no limits on debate; they should be able to talk forever. Despite this, in recent years both parties have been able to enact legislation on strict party lines with fewer than 60 senators in support. Download PDF