Up or down vote
Encyclopedia
An up or down vote refers to a direct vote in the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate on an amendment
or bill
; it is sometimes referred to as a "clean vote". Members vote yea or nay on the matter rather than voting on a related procedural maneuver. Depending upon the rules of order for that particular type of amendment or bill, the vote required for passage might be a 2/3 majority, a 3/5 majority, or a simple majority
.
The phrase is probably most often used by those who are frustrated by opponents in the House or Senate who delay a bill indefinitely by means of various tactics. The rules of the House and Senate allow a bill to be delayed — including "delayed permanently" — by various means, such as to table
the bill, to recommit it, or to amend it in the second degree. By appealing for an "up or down vote", an advocate of the bill is trying to get it out of committee and past all other legislative hurdles, and to a floor vote.
In 2005, the phrase was heard most often from Republicans
in the United States, who occupied 55 seats in the United States Senate
, and thus lacked the 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster
maneuver by the Democratic
Senators. Because of this, a united Democratic bloc was able to filibuster any objectionable bill, Presidential appointment, or other matter before the Senate, and prevent passage. If the Republicans were able to bring any particular matter to an "up or down vote", they would be able to approve that measure if voting as a bloc.
To this end, many Republican-affiliated websites and political action committee
s had urged voters to demand of their Senators and Representatives an "up or down vote" on various issues. Constitutionally, however, the Senate is not obliged to give any matter an up or down vote.
Since taking control of the U.S. Senate in 2006
, Democrats have accused Republicans of filibustering almost every proposal, and, hence, requiring 60 votes to pass any legislation (e.g., the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
, and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act). And with good reason. Republicans set a record for the most number of filibusters during the 111th congress.
Bill (proposed law)
A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....
or bill
Bill (proposed law)
A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....
; it is sometimes referred to as a "clean vote". Members vote yea or nay on the matter rather than voting on a related procedural maneuver. Depending upon the rules of order for that particular type of amendment or bill, the vote required for passage might be a 2/3 majority, a 3/5 majority, or a simple majority
Majority
A majority is a subset of a group consisting of more than half of its members. This can be compared to a plurality, which is a subset larger than any other subset; i.e. a plurality is not necessarily a majority as the largest subset may consist of less than half the group's population...
.
The phrase is probably most often used by those who are frustrated by opponents in the House or Senate who delay a bill indefinitely by means of various tactics. The rules of the House and Senate allow a bill to be delayed — including "delayed permanently" — by various means, such as to table
Table (parliamentary)
In parliamentary procedure, a motion to table has two different and contradictory meanings:*In the United States, table usually means the motion to lay on the table or motion to postpone consideration; a proposal to suspend consideration of a pending motion...
the bill, to recommit it, or to amend it in the second degree. By appealing for an "up or down vote", an advocate of the bill is trying to get it out of committee and past all other legislative hurdles, and to a floor vote.
In 2005, the phrase was heard most often from Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in the United States, who occupied 55 seats in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, and thus lacked the 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster
Filibuster
A filibuster is a type of parliamentary procedure. Specifically, it is the right of an individual to extend debate, allowing a lone member to delay or entirely prevent a vote on a given proposal...
maneuver by the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Senators. Because of this, a united Democratic bloc was able to filibuster any objectionable bill, Presidential appointment, or other matter before the Senate, and prevent passage. If the Republicans were able to bring any particular matter to an "up or down vote", they would be able to approve that measure if voting as a bloc.
To this end, many Republican-affiliated websites and political action committee
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
s had urged voters to demand of their Senators and Representatives an "up or down vote" on various issues. Constitutionally, however, the Senate is not obliged to give any matter an up or down vote.
Since taking control of the U.S. Senate in 2006
United States Senate elections, 2006
Elections for the United States Senate were held on November 7, 2006, with 33 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate being contested. Senators are elected for six-year terms, with one third of the Senate seats up for a vote every two years. The term of office for those elected in 2006 runs...
, Democrats have accused Republicans of filibustering almost every proposal, and, hence, requiring 60 votes to pass any legislation (e.g., the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
, and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act). And with good reason. Republicans set a record for the most number of filibusters during the 111th congress.