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How much time do senators usually have to debate a bill on the floor of the senate?
The Senate does not have a time limit. The only real time limit for the Senate is that they have to vote on the bill before that Congressional session ends. If the session ends before the bill is sent to the President's desk, for any reason whatsoever (no matter how trivial the reason is), then the bill "dies," and they have to start all over the next January (when the next session begins).
This often leads to abuse, which is called a "filibuster," where one Senator who opposes a bill will attempt to just talk endlessly until the bill is withdrawn, or the session ends.
To combat a filibuster, 3/5 of the Senate (currently, sixty Senators) can invoke a "cloture," which limits a bill to one hour of debate. This is the only time the Senate has a time limit other than the Congressional session.
What else can I help you with?
Who takes part of a debate on the floor of the senate?
In a Senate debate, the main participants are the senators themselves, who represent their respective states. They engage in discussions on proposed legislation, policy issues, or other matters before the Senate. Additionally, sometimes invited experts or witnesses may provide testimony in committee hearings, but the floor debate is primarily between the senators. The Vice President of the United States can also preside over the Senate but does not typically participate in the debate unless there is a tie to break.
What is one difference between how debates are scheduled for discussion in the senate an the house?
Floor debate is strictly limited on the House, but almost unrestrained in the Senate.
Who calls a bill to debate on the floor?
The House Rules Committee places the bill on a calendar for floor debate in the House or the Senate.
What main differences exist between the house and the senate in the lawmaking process?
All revenue bills must start in the House of Representatives. Represenatives do not have unlimited time to talk on the floor. They can be over-looked or given a time limit by the rules of the House of the Speaker of the House. Senators have no time limits and may talk indefinately unless there is a cloture vote in which other members of the Senate vote to halt discussions of the current item before the Senate.
How many chairs in the US Senate?
There are 100 for the 100 senators on the floor.
What is the practice that allows for unlimited debate on the Senate floor?
The term is filibuster.
Why is the atmosphere is so informal in the senate?
There are times when the Senate is more formal, but most of Senate business is not done of the Senate floor. Senators make speeches because they want them in the Senate record and possibly because they want to be seen on TV, but they do not expect the other Senators to be moved by their oratory. Senators do have to be present to vote and sometimes they have to hang around the Senate floor when an important vote is expected, so they talk to people and try to get something done while they wait for the vote to come up.
How many senators to have filIrbuster senate?
Technically, any one senator can filibuster a bill in the Senate. Senate rules provide that any senator may speak on a subject for so long as they may remain standing and speaking. Rule changes throughout the 1900s, especially those in the 1970s, now allow closure of debate to be passed with the consent of 60 senators. Therefore, in order to sustain a filibuster, a senator would require 41 other senators to agree with them. In reality, if 41 senators agree, a bill will not progress to a vote on the floor.
What describes a cloture rule?
The cloture rule is a way to end a filibuster in Congress. A minimum of 16 senators must sign the petition and three-fifths of the Senate must vote to pass it.
Republican senators voted to pass the health care reform bill in its vote on the Senate floor?
No, zero Republicans voted for this bill in the Senate.
How does the senate conduct business?
The Senate conducts business through a series of structured procedures, including the introduction of bills, debate, and voting. Senators can propose legislation, which is then assigned to committees for review and discussion. Debate on the Senate floor may be limited by unanimous consent agreements or cloture motions, which require a supermajority to end prolonged debate. Ultimately, decisions are made through a majority vote, with certain actions requiring a higher threshold, such as a two-thirds vote for overriding a presidential veto.
What limits debates in the Senate?
Debates in the Senate are limited primarily by the use of cloture, which requires a supermajority of 60 votes to end a filibuster and bring a debate to a close. Additionally, the Senate's rules and procedures dictate the structure and time allotted for debate on specific issues, which can also impose limits. Furthermore, the leadership can influence debate limits through scheduling and setting priorities for which bills are brought to the floor. These mechanisms collectively help manage the often lengthy and complex discussions among senators.
