The Nuclear Option in Legislative Procedure
February 1 2017 By Abiodun Giwa
Mitch McConnell
The opposing members in the United States' Congress are known to use 'Filibuster' to block and prolong discussions on bills they oppose their approval. The world has also learned that there is a 'Nuclear Option', which a party with the majority in the Congress, can use to overcome opposition's filibusters.
With a mention of the 'Nuclear Option' and the implication of the popular nuclear bomb scenario, there is a need to explain that the 'Nuclear Option' in the legislative term, is not about the president using or pressing the nuclear button, to attack any country.
How does the Nuclear Option work in the Congress? According to Wikipedia "The nuclear or constitutional option is a parliamentary procedure that allows the U.S. Senate to override a rule or precedent by a simple majority of 51 votes, instead of by a super majority of 60 votes. "
However, the senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, is said to be working on achieving a bipartisan confirmation for Neil Gorsuch. But many members of his party are asking for the use of the 'Nuclear Option', in a case that the Democratic Party make it impossible to get the 60 votes for a super majority.
The Democratic party members are asking for 60 votes for Gorsuch's confirmation and that anything short of the 60 votes rule as unacceptable. But is very clear that the Republican Party is dangling the Nuclear Option as a possibility, if the Democratic Party members' blockade become destructive.
The explanation about the 'Nuclear Option' has become necessary, in view of Trump's political opponents' worries, which Trumps supporters call propaganda, that because Trump has short temper, it is not fitting for him to be president and be trusted with a nuclear button.
With a mention of the 'Nuclear Option' and the implication of the popular nuclear bomb scenario, there is a need to explain that the 'Nuclear Option' in the legislative term, is not about the president using or pressing the nuclear button, to attack any country.
How does the Nuclear Option work in the Congress? According to Wikipedia "The nuclear or constitutional option is a parliamentary procedure that allows the U.S. Senate to override a rule or precedent by a simple majority of 51 votes, instead of by a super majority of 60 votes. "
However, the senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, is said to be working on achieving a bipartisan confirmation for Neil Gorsuch. But many members of his party are asking for the use of the 'Nuclear Option', in a case that the Democratic Party make it impossible to get the 60 votes for a super majority.
The Democratic party members are asking for 60 votes for Gorsuch's confirmation and that anything short of the 60 votes rule as unacceptable. But is very clear that the Republican Party is dangling the Nuclear Option as a possibility, if the Democratic Party members' blockade become destructive.
The explanation about the 'Nuclear Option' has become necessary, in view of Trump's political opponents' worries, which Trumps supporters call propaganda, that because Trump has short temper, it is not fitting for him to be president and be trusted with a nuclear button.
