14 Facts About Nuclear option

Nuclear option can be invoked by a senator raising a point of order that contravenes a standing rule.

The nuclear option is made possible by the principle in Senate procedure that appeals from rulings of the chair on points of order relating to nondebatable questions are themselves nondebatable.

Nuclear option was invoked in November 2013, when a Senate Democratic majority led by Harry Reid used the procedure to eliminate the 60-vote rule for judicial nominations, other than nominations to the Supreme Court.

Alternative term "constitutional Nuclear option" is often used with particular regard to confirmation of executive and judicial nominations, on the rationale that the United States Constitution requires these nominations to receive the "advice and consent" of the Senate.

Opponents countered that Walsh's constitutional Nuclear option would lead to procedural chaos, but his argument was a key factor in the adNuclear option of the first cloture rule later that year.

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At the opening of the 85th United States Congress in January 1957, Clinton P Anderson attempted to use Nixon's opinion to invoke the nuclear option but was interrupted by Lyndon B Johnson, who as Senate Majority Leader had precedence.

The ultimate confrontation was prevented by the Gang of 14, a group of seven Democratic and seven Republican Senators, all of whom agreed to oppose the nuclear option and oppose filibusters of judicial nominees, except in extraordinary circumstances.

Nuclear option was raised again following the congressional elections of 2012, this time with Senate Democrats in the majority.

In July 2013, the nuclear option was raised as nominations were being blocked by Senate Republicans as Senate Democrats prepared to push through a change to the chamber's filibuster rule.

Nuclear option repeated the call on December 21,2018, with a fresh shutdown looming.

Concerns about abolishing the filibuster through the nuclear option were reiterated in 2021 as the Democratic-majority Senate could move to eliminate the filibuster through the nuclear option.

In 2005, pro-nuclear option Republicans argued that they had won recent elections and in a democracy the winners rule, not the minority.

In 2005, Democrats claimed the nuclear option was an attempt by Senate Republicans to hand confirmation power to themselves.

Nuclear option is not to be confused with reconciliation, which allows issues related to the annual budget to be decided by a majority vote without the possibility of filibuster.