The Senate Dw#

The Senate Floor

Expectations Senators are expected to know how to deal with many issues. This includes anything from national defense, social issues, to farming.

Informal Atmosphere Rules are more flexible These are designed to give senators the opportunity to express their ideas. Unlimited Debate time How many minutes to House Members get to debate on the House floor? Senate Rule Book is fewer that 100 pages They may debate one issue for months

Senate Leaders The Vice President presides over the Senate, but does not vote unless there is a tie. If the VP is absent (mostly is) the most senior member of the controlling party acts as the leader.

Majority and Minority Floor Leaders Elected by their Party Main Job is to steer bills through their party What is a bill??? Plans work schedule Make sure members attend important debates or meetings

Filibuster One way to defeat a bill is to use a filibuster It means to stall the legislative process and prevent a vote Tactics include talking continuously, delaying issues in the committee Democrat Strom Thurmond of South Carolina broke the record with a 24 hours and 18 minute filibuster blocking the Civil Rights Act of 1957

Filibuster A filibuster by group can go on for weeks or months It can be stopped with a 3/5 vote (60 votes) for closure.

Ted Cruze Filibuster Filibuster of Obamacare (Affordable Healthcare Act) WASHINGTON — He read Dr. Seuss, sang the praises of White Castle hamburgers, did a Darth Vader imitation and quoted from the reality TV show “Duck Dynasty.” But Ted Cruz, the firebrand conservative freshman senator from Texas, mostly talked about Obamacare. Endlessly. For 21 hours and 19 minutes, from Tuesday afternoon to midday Wednesday, he stood on the Senate floor and talked and talked, railing against President Obama’s signature health care law. Yet, when his stunt ended, the Republican senator was no closer to killing Obamacare.