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Ten questions from On the floor. Each answer says why. Your answers stay in your browser.
The presiding officer refuses to consider an amendment or motion that is out of order or not germane, often because it’s off topic.
Absent or excused members don’t count as no, but a bill still needs 51 or 26 yes votes.
Both chambers vote on the conference committee’s report, with no further amendments allowed.
Bills need a constitutional majority: 51 in the House and 26 in the Senate, however many members are there that day.
Two-thirds (67 and 34) is needed to override a veto and for some procedural moves.
The House can concur (accept the change) or refuse to concur. If both chambers insist, a conference committee writes a compromise.
The majority caucus counts votes in private first. A bill short of votes usually just never comes up.
Sine die is Latin for “without a day”: the session ends with no date set to return.
A motion to reconsider asks for a new vote. It’s often filed right after a vote to hold the bill in place.
The debate list names the bills leaders plan to bring up on a given day.
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