Nuclear option facts for kids
The nuclear option is a special way the United States Senate can change its own rules. Normally, it takes a lot of votes (a "supermajority") to stop a long debate (called a filibuster) or change a rule. But the nuclear option lets them do it with just a simple majority (more than half the votes). It's called "nuclear" because it's seen as a very powerful and extreme move, like a nuclear weapon in a fight.
A senator starts by saying that something goes against the rules. The person in charge, called the presiding officer, usually says "no, that's not right" based on the Senate's rules. But then, other senators can challenge that decision. If more than half of them vote to overturn the presiding officer's decision, they create a new rule or way of doing things. This is often used to stop a filibuster, which is when a senator tries to delay a vote by talking for a very long time.
The nuclear option has been used a few times. On November 21, 2013, a group of Democratic senators, led by Harry Reid, used it. They changed the rules so that most people nominated for government jobs (but not for the Supreme Court) could be approved with a simple majority vote.
Then, on April 6, 2017, a group of Republican senators, led by Mitch McConnell, used it again. This time, they extended the rule change to include nominations for the Supreme Court. This helped them approve Neil Gorsuch as a Supreme Court Justice with a simple majority vote.
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How the Nuclear Option Works
The nuclear option is a specific process that changes how the Senate operates. It allows senators to get around the usual rules that require more votes. This happens by challenging a decision made by the person leading the Senate meeting.
Steps to Use the Nuclear Option
Here's how the nuclear option was used on November 21, 2013:
- A senator (Mr. Reid) said that a vote on approving someone for a job should only need a simple majority.
- The person in charge of the Senate meeting (the President pro tempore) said that wasn't allowed by the rules.
- Mr. Reid then challenged that decision and asked for a vote.
- The senators voted 48 to 52, meaning they did not agree with the person in charge.
- Because of this vote, the Senate created a new way of doing things. From that day on, most nominations only needed a simple majority vote to be approved.
Changing Senate Rules with a Vote
When the person in charge makes a decision, senators can challenge it. If the challenge is about something that doesn't need a long debate, then the vote on the challenge also happens without debate. A simple majority vote is all that's needed to overturn the decision of the person in charge.
This way, the Senate can change its rules or how it handles certain votes. It creates a new "precedent," which is like a new example or rule for how things will be done in the future. These new precedents then become the guide for future Senate leaders. This process can be used to get around the usual 60-vote rule needed to stop a filibuster.
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