maybe I'm a bit thick and laws constantly get revamped. I always thought I stayed up on current events and senate tactics when it comes to 'how to pass a bill'. Please let me know if I miss or where I'm confused on the process.
DocRDS can you please post a link where it states, "current rules,
you can filibuster without the extensive speeches."
So as far as I understand -
Bill passes house,
Bill moves to senate for vote
BEFORE a vote can be taken in Senate, 41 senators must threaten to filibuster.
This is a warning to the Senate Majority leader (D) that they will need to gather 60 votes to STOP the filibuster or proceed and face the filibuster.
"senators have been able to use a “silent” filibuster. Anytime a group of 41 or more senators simply threatens a filibuster, the Senate majority leader can refuse to call a vote."
link BUT, current leadership is Democrats, so they'll move Bill forward.
At this point,
cloture is evoked to try to stop the filibuster.
cloture
cloture is the only procedure by which the Senate can vote to set an end to a debate without also rejecting the bill
Should cloture get defeated
"Should a cloture motion be defeated, the majority leader may enter a motion to reconsider the cloture vote. This allows the majority leader to call up the motion at a subsequent time when he feels he has the votes and thereby obtain an immediate second vote on cloture."
The next tactic by the minority, after cloture has been invoked, is usually to try to add crazy amendments to kill the bill (since it then has to go back to the house for approval and then back to Senate for the process to start again).
"Senators who wish to offer amendments to a bill or amendment on which cloture has been invoked must
submit their amendments in writing before the cloture vote takes place. First-degree amendments (which propose to change the text of a bill or a committee amendment in the nature of a substitute) must be submitted in writing to the journal clerk when the Senate is in session but no later than 1:00 p.m. on the day after the cloture motion is filed. Second-degree amendments (which propose to amend first-degree amendments) must be submitted at least an hour before the Senate votes on cloture. "
cloture
If
60 votes can't be gathered, filibuster starts. During this time, Senate Majority leader (D) starts trying to grease a few senators (R) to jump the isle.
Senate Majority leader then greases and digs for 60 votes (so, Dems try to get 10 Republicans to join them)
Also, if Filibuster is under way, Senators talk till they turn blue.
(
here is where My question to @DocRDS ) How can the minority filibuster without the extensive speeches?
I believed that R's had to talk. At what point, will R's eventually stop talking and a vote takes place. The vote requires 51 in favor of Bill, to move Bill to President for approval.
If I missed something in my thought process, please let me know and chime in.
I'm truly interested how Republicans can stop the bill.
Tagging in
@BigPrince since he mentioned cloture before.