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2013 nuclear option

The 2013 'nuclear option' changed the Senate's ability to sustain filibusters against most presidential nominees, allowing for the confirmation of previously blocked nominees.

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Jan 29, 2026
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How did the Senate 'nuclear option' change confirmation dynamics for Supreme Court nominees in 2017?

The April 6, 2017 invocation of the “” removed the 60-vote cloture hurdle for Supreme Court nominees, allowing debate to be cut off and confirmation to proceed by a simple majority—paving the way for ...

Jan 17, 2026

What procedural tools can senators use to bypass or enforce the 60-vote threshold?

The Senate’s 60-vote “threshold” is not a single constitutional mandate but a collection of rules and practices — primarily cloture under Rule XXII and the filibuster — that make 60 votes the de facto...