senate rules changed to 60 votes in 1975.
senate rules changed to 60 votes in 1975.
when did senate rules change to 60 votes?
1975
in 1975, the senate revised its cloture rule so that three-fifths of sworn senators (60 votes out of 100) could limit debate, except for changing senate rules which still requires a two-thirds majority of those present and voting to invoke cloture. however, by returning to an absolute number of all senators (60) rather than a proportion of those present and voting, the change also made any filibusters easier to sustain on the floor by a small number of senators from the minority party without requiring the presence of their minority colleagues. this further reduced the majority's leverage to force an issue through extended debate.
filibuster in the united states senate
however, at the urging of president bush, the bill was brought back for discussion in the senate as bill s. 1639 on june 25. on june 26, a motion to proceed passed the senate, by a margin of 64–35 (under senate rules it needed 60 votes). a number of amendments to the bill were considered and rejected. on june 28, the bill failed to get the 60 votes necessary to end debate. the final cloture vote lost, 46–53. this effectively ended its chances, and president bush said he was disappointed at congress's failure to act on the issue.
comprehensive immigration reform act of 2007