The 'nuclear option' is a U.S. Senate procedural tactic to change the chamber's rules by majority vote to eliminate or limit the filibuster so that legislation can pass with a simple majority.
November 05, 2025
high
procedural
Alternate Senate rule-changing mechanism used to circumvent the 60-vote filibuster threshold
A change to the U.S. Senate's rules can be adopted by a simple majority vote; using this majority procedure to eliminate or alter the filibuster is commonly referred to as the "nuclear option."
October 31, 2025
high
procedural
Explains how Senate rules can be changed and the common term for doing so to modify the filibuster.
The 'nuclear option' is a Senate procedure in which the majority party changes chamber rules by a simple majority vote, typically used to eliminate or alter the filibuster.
October 31, 2025
high
procedural
Defines the parliamentary maneuver used to change Senate rules with a simple majority.
The term 'nuclear option' refers to the parliamentary maneuver of changing Senate rules to eliminate the filibuster's 60-vote cloture requirement.
October 28, 2025
high
definition
Defines a commonly used phrase for ending the filibuster by rule change.
The 'nuclear option' is a parliamentary maneuver in the U.S. Senate that allows the majority to change Senate rules or precedents by majority vote, enabling modifications to filibuster or cloture thresholds without the conventional supermajority.
October 09, 2025
high
temporal
The nuclear option has been used in recent decades to alter confirmation rules for certain nominations.
The "nuclear option" is a parliamentary procedure in the United States Senate used to change Senate rules to eliminate or limit the filibuster and permit actions by a simple majority.
September 30, 2025
high
definitional
Definition of the term as it applies to Senate procedure.
Invoking the 'nuclear option' in the U.S. Senate is a procedure that uses a simple majority to change chamber rules to allow unlimited groups of nominees to be voted on at once.
September 11, 2025
high
procedural
Defines a Senate procedure for altering confirmation rules to permit bulk votes on nominees.
The term "nuclear option" refers to a Senate procedure of unilaterally changing the Senate's rules, commonly used to alter confirmation processes for nominations.
high
descriptive
Parliamentary tactic in the U.S. Senate to change rules without unanimous consent.
The 'nuclear option' is a parliamentary tactic used in the United States Senate to change Senate rules by majority vote in order to eliminate or limit the filibuster.
high
process
Explains what the term 'nuclear option' refers to in the context of Senate rule changes.
The term "nuclear option" refers to a parliamentary move in the U.S. Senate to change Senate rules to eliminate the filibuster and allow legislation to pass by a simple majority vote.
high
definition
Explains a procedural tactic available within Senate rules to alter the cloture requirement.
The U.S. Senate filibuster creates an effective 60-vote threshold to end debate on most legislation, and the 'nuclear option' is a parliamentary move that can change Senate rules to allow certain measures to pass by a simple majority.
high
procedural
Describes how Senate voting rules affect the legislative process and how the 'nuclear option' alters that threshold.