On the Cloture Motion PN2: Caitlin Joan Halligan, of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit

Number:
Senate Vote #30 [primary source: senate.gov]
Date:
Mar 06, 2013 (113th Congress)
Result:
Cloture Motion Rejected

This was a vote on “cloture”, which means to end debate so that an up-or-down vote can be taken. A vote in favor is a vote to end debate and move to a vote on the issue itself, while a vote against is a vote to prolong debate or to filibuster.

(About Ads | Go Ad-Free for $5)
Totals     Democrat     Republican     Independent
  Yea 51
 
 
 
51%
48 1 2
  Nay 41
 
 
 
41%
1 40 0
Not Voting 8
 
 
 
8%
4 4 0
Required: 3/5

Vote Details

Notes

What’s the difference between aye and yea?

There is no meaningful difference between aye and yea (and nay and no), but the terms are used in different sorts of votes based on Congress’s long tradition of parliamentary procedure. The House and Senate follow the U.S. Constitution strictly when it says that bills should be decided on by the “yeas and nays” (Article I, Section 7). The House sometimes operates under a special set of rules called the “Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union” (or “Committee of the Whole” for short), which is a sort of pseudo-committee that is made up of every congressman. During this mode of operation, the House uses the terms “aye” and “no” instead. (See the Rules of the House, Rule XX, and House Practice in the section Voting.)