The Senate has no single way of considering legislation. The Republican debate over the SAVE America Act reflects a larger choice among collegial, majoritarian, and structured-consent approaches to debate, amendments, and decision-making.

Republican leaders say the Senate cannot debate the SAVE America Act because they lack the votes to invoke cloture, but cloture is not the only way to overcome obstruction. The Senate’s history shows that when senators believe Rule XXII prevents them from acting, they can either force opponents to hold the floor or try to change the rule.

Has the Senate always relied on cloture to overcome obstruction and pass legislation? The historical record says no.

A detailed guide to how Senate majorities can avoid unlimited amendments in a talking filibuster.

A step-by-step guide to how a determined majority can overcome minority obstruction without abolishing the filibuster.

This post highlights how the House can make it easier for the Senate to pass legislation.

Senate rules provide alternative ways to outlast or outmaneuver a filibuster.

A practical guide to identifying appropriations provisions that may run afoul of Rule XVI.

This piece explains why moving a minibus through the Senate often depends less on raw majority power than on unanimous consent.

Senate rules and party practices may give Republicans more leverage over earmarks than they are using.

How substantive disagreements can quickly become floor-management problems when senators don’t follow their own party rules.

Senate minorities only gain leverage when they are willing to use the tools available to them.

This piece lays out how existing procedures can be used to move the process forward without nuking the rules.

The article explores how Senate rules shape the timing, leverage, and possible resolution of fiscal brinkmanship.

A straightforward guide to the principal leadership positions in the Senate Republican conference and what each one does. It helps readers understand how party leadership operates behind the scenes.

How internal party rules can shape leadership fights.

Republicans may reinvigorate the committee system and their leadership with one simple reform

Republicans can direct their leaders to share more information