The rules matter more than you think.
New to Legislative Procedure?
The Filibuster
How the Senate's 60-vote threshold shapes what passes and what stalls — and the procedural moves that work around it.
House Procedure
How the House controls debate through special rules, structured amendments, and floor procedures — and why it operates so differently from the Senate.
Reconciliation
The budget process Congress uses to bypass the filibuster, including why it matters and what it can and can't do.
Strategy & Tactics
The procedural playbook leaders and members use to advance, block, or reshape legislation in real time.
In the News
Procedural analysis of what's happening in Congress right now.
The Senate
The House
Explainers
In-depth guides to the rules and practices that shape how Congress works.
Meet the Founder
James Wallner brings firsthand Capitol Hill experience to his analysis, having worked at every level of Congress, from Legislative Assistant to Executive Director of the Senate Steering Committee. He is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation.
Follow me on X: @jameswallner
The Senate’s growing reliance on cloture does not prove that major legislation cannot pass without 60 votes. It shows instead leaders’ reliance on cloture to manage debate, block unwanted amendments, and avoid difficult votes.