Nuclear option

For other uses, see Nuclear option (disambiguation).

In the United States Senate, the nuclear option is a parliamentary procedure that allows the Senate to override a standing rule by a simple majority, avoiding the two-thirds ^[1] supermajority normally required to invoke cloture on a measure amending the Standing Rules. The term "nuclear option" is an analogy to nuclear weapons being the most extreme option in warfare.

The nuclear option can be invoked by a senator raising a point of order that contravenes a standing rule. The presiding officer would then overrule the point of order based on Senate rules and precedents; this ruling would then be appealed and overturned by a simple majority vote (or a tie vote), establishing a new precedent. The nuclear option is made possible by the principle in Senate procedure that appeals from rulings of the chair on points of order relating to nondebatable questions are themselves nondebatable. ^{[2] : 725} The nuclear option is most often discussed in connection with the filibuster. Since cloture is a nondebatable question, an appeal in relation to cloture is decided without debate. This obviates the usual requirement for a two-thirds majority to invoke cloture on a resolution amending the Standing Rules.

The nuclear option was notably invoked on November 21, 2013, when a Democratic majority led by Harry Reid used the procedure to reduce the cloture threshold for nominations, other than nominations to the Supreme Court, to a simple majority. ^[3] On April 6, 2017, the nuclear option was used again, this time by a Republican majority led by Mitch McConnell, to extend that precedent to Supreme Court nominations, in order to enable cloture to be invoked on the nomination of Neil Gorsuch by a simple majority. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

The use of the nuclear option to abolish the 60-vote threshold for cloture on legislation has been proposed, but not successfully effected.

Procedure to invoke the nuclear option

On November 21, 2013, following a failed cloture vote on a nomination, the nuclear option was used, as follows: ^[7]

Mr. REID. I raise a point of order that the vote on cloture under Rule XXII for all nominations other than for the Supreme Court of the United States is by majority vote.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the rules, the point of order is not sustained.
Mr. REID. I appeal the ruling of the Chair and ask for the yeas and nays.
(48–52 vote on sustaining the decision of the chair)
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The decision of the Chair is not sustained.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. *** Under the precedent set by the Senate today, November 21, 2013, the threshold for cloture on nominations, not including those to the Supreme Court of the United States, is now a majority. That is the ruling of the Chair. ^[8]

Once the presiding officer rules on the point of order, if the underlying question is nondebatable, any appeal is decided without debate. A simple majority is needed to sustain a decision of the chair. ^{[2] : 148} As the appeal is nondebatable, there is no supermajority requirement for cloture, as would be necessary for a proposition amending the rules. The presiding officer and the standing rule can therefore be overruled by a simple majority. This procedure establishes a new precedent that supersedes the plain text of the Standing Rules. These precedents will then be relied upon by future presiding officers in determining questions of procedure.

The procedure may, for example, override requirements of Rule XXII, the cloture rule, in order to allow a filibuster to be broken without the usual 60-vote requirement.

Background

The 60-vote rule

Main article: Filibuster in the United States Senate

Originally, the Senate's rules did not provide for a procedure for the Senate to vote to end debate on a question so that it could be voted on, ^{[9] [10] [11]} which opened the door to filibusters. In 1917, the Senate introduced a procedure to allow for ending debate (invoking cloture) with a two-thirds majority, later reduced in 1975 to three-fifths of the senators duly chosen and sworn (60 if there is no more than one vacancy). ^[12] Thus, although a measure might have majority support, opposition from or absence by at least 41 senators can effectively defeat a bill by preventing debate on it from ending, in a tactic known as a filibuster.

Since the 1970s, the Senate has also used a "two-track" procedure whereby Senate business may continue on other topics while one item is being filibustered. Since filibusters no longer require the minority to actually hold the floor and bring all other business to a halt, the mere threat of a filibuster has gradually become normalized. In the modern Senate, this means that most measures now typically requires 60 votes to advance, unless a specific exception limiting the time for debate applies.

Changing Rule XXII to eliminate the 60-vote threshold is made difficult by the rules themselves. Rule XXII, paragraph 2, states that to end debate on any proposition "to amend the Senate rules [...] the necessary affirmative vote shall be two-thirds of the Senators present and voting". If all senators vote, 67 votes are required to invoke cloture on a proposition to amend a rule. ^[12]

Terminology

Republican Senator Ted Stevens suggested using a ruling of the chair to defeat a filibuster of judicial nominees in February 2003. The code word for the plan was "Hulk". Weeks later, Senator Trent Lott coined the term nuclear option in March 2003 because the maneuver was seen as a last resort with possibly major consequences for both sides. ^{[13] [14] [15]} The metaphor of a nuclear strike refers to the majority party unilaterally imposing a change to the filibuster rule, which might provoke retaliation by the minority party. ^{[16] [17]}

The alternative term "constitutional option" ^{[18] [19] [20]} is often used with particular regard to confirmation of executive and judicial nominations, on the theory that the United States Constitution requires these nominations to receive the "advice and consent" of the Senate. Proponents of this term argue that the Constitution implies that the Senate can act by a majority vote unless the Constitution itself requires a supermajority, as it does for certain measures such as the ratification of treaties. ^[16] By effectively requiring a supermajority of the Senate to fulfil this function, proponents believe that the current Senate practice prevents the body from exercising its constitutional mandate, and that the remedy is therefore the "constitutional option".

2005 debate on judicial nominations

Main article: 2005 debate on nuclear option (United States Senate)

The maneuver was brought to prominence in 2005 when Majority Leader Bill Frist threatened its use to end Democratic-led filibusters of judicial nominees submitted by President George W. Bush. In response to this threat, Democrats threatened to obstruct all routine Senate business. The ultimate confrontation was prevented by the Gang of 14, a group of seven Democratic and seven Republican Senators, all of whom agreed to oppose the nuclear option and oppose filibusters of judicial nominees, except in extraordinary circumstances. Several of the blocked nominees were brought to the floor, voted upon and approved as specified in the agreement, and others were dropped and did not come up for a vote, as implied by the agreement.

Rules reforms, 2011 and 2013

In 2011, with a Democratic majority in the Senate (but not a 60-vote majority), Senators Jeff Merkley and Tom Udall proposed "a sweeping filibuster reform package" to be implemented by the nuclear option, but Majority Leader Harry Reid dissuaded them from pushing it forward. ^[21]

The nuclear option was raised again following the congressional elections of 2012, with Senate Democrats still in the majority (but short of a supermajority). ^[22] The Democrats had been the majority party in the Senate since 2007, but only briefly did they have the 60 votes necessary to halt a filibuster. The Hill reported that Democrats would "likely" use the nuclear option in January 2013 to effect filibuster reform, ^[23] but the two parties managed to negotiate two packages of amendments to Senate rules concerning filibusters that were agreed to on January 24, 2013, ^[24] thus avoiding the need for the nuclear option. ^[25]

In July 2013, the nuclear option was raised as nominations were being blocked by Senate Republicans as Senate Democrats prepared to push through a change to the chamber's filibuster rule. ^[26] On July 16, the Senate Democratic majority came within hours of using the nuclear option to win confirmation of seven of President Obama's long-delayed executive branch appointments. The confrontation was avoided when the White House withdrew two of the nominations in exchange for the other five being brought to the floor for a vote, where they were confirmed. ^[27]

Recent usage

1995: Hutchison precedent

Rule XVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate prohibits legislative material from being included in general appropriations bills. ^[28]

In 1995, during consideration of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions for the Department of Defense to Preserve and Enhance Military Readiness Act of 1995, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison offered an amendment that would have changed existing law regarding endangered species, therefore violating Rule XVI. Senator Harry Reid raised a point of order against the amendment, which the chair sustained. Hutchison appealed the ruling of the chair. The Senate voted against sustaining the decision of the chair by a vote of 42–57. ^[29] The Senate thus set a precedent nullifying the provision of Rule XVI. ^[30]

In 1999, the Hutchison precedent was overturned (and the original effect of Rule XVI restored) when the Senate agreed to S.Res. 160, which states:

Resolved, That the presiding officer of the Senate should apply all precedents of the Senate under rule 16, in effect at the conclusion of the 103d Congress.

1996: FedEx precedent

Rule XXVIII, paragraph 3, of the Standing Rules of the Senate prohibits any matter outside the scope of a conference from being included in a conference report. ^[31]

In 1996, during consideration of the conference report on the Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 1996, Majority Leader Trent Lott raised a point of order that the conference report exceeded the scope of the conference with respect to provisions relating to FedEx. After the point of order was sustained by the chair, Lott appealed the ruling of the chair. The Senate voted against sustaining the decision of the chair by a vote of 39–56. ^[32] The Senate thus set a precedent nullifying the provision of Rule XXVIII. ^[30]

In 2000, the FedEx precedent was overturned (and the original effect of Rule XXVIII restored) when Congress passed the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2001, which states, in relevant part: ^[33]

SEC. 903. Beginning on the first day of the 107th Congress, the Presiding Officer of the Senate shall apply all of the precedents of the Senate under Rule XXVIII in effect at the conclusion of the 103d Congress.

2013: Cloture on nominations

On November 21, 2013, Majority Leader Harry Reid raised a point of order that "the vote on cloture under Rule XXII for all nominations other than for the Supreme Court of the United States is by majority vote." ^[34] The presiding officer overruled the point of order, and the Senate voted 48–52 against sustaining the decision of the chair. The Senate therefore set a precedent that cloture can be invoked on nominations (except to the Supreme Court) by a simple majority, even though the plain text of the rule requires "three-fifths of the senators duly chosen and sworn" to invoke cloture. Three Democrats (Carl Levin, Joe Manchin and Mark Pryor) voted with all Republicans in favor of sustaining the decision of the chair. The text of Rule XXII was never changed. ^[35]

Although the 60-vote threshold was eliminated for most nominations, nominations are still susceptible to being delayed by filibusters, ^[36] and 60 votes were still required to invoke cloture on other questions such as legislation and Supreme Court nominations. ^[37]

Rationale for change

The Democrats' stated motivation for this change was the perceived expansion of filibustering by Republicans during the Obama administration, in particular blocking three nominations to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Republicans had asserted that the D.C. Circuit was underworked, ^[38] and also cited the need for cost reduction by reducing the number of judges in that circuit. ^[39] At the time of the vote, 59 executive branch nominees and 17 judicial nominees were awaiting confirmation. ^[38]

Prior to November 21, 2013, there had been only 168 cloture motions filed (or reconsidered) with regard to nominations. Nearly half of them (82) had been during the Obama administration. ^[40] However, those cloture motions were often filed merely to speed things along, rather than in response to any filibuster. ^[41] In contrast, there were just 38 cloture motions on nominations during the preceding eight years under President George W. Bush. ^[42] Most of those cloture votes were successful. Obama won Senate confirmation for 30 out of 42 federal appeals court nominations, compared with Bush's 35 out of 52. ^{[42] [43]}

Regarding Obama's federal district court nominations, the Senate approved 143 out of 173 as of November 2013, compared to George W. Bush's first term 170 of 179, Bill Clinton's first term 170 of 198, and George H.W. Bush's 150 of 195. ^{[42] [44]} Filibusters were used on 20 of Obama's nominations to district court positions, ^[45] but Republicans had allowed confirmation of 19 out of the 20 before the nuclear option was invoked. ^[46]

2017: Cloture on Supreme Court nominations

On April 6, 2017, the Republican-majority Senate invoked the nuclear option ^[47] and voted 48–52 along party lines ^[48] against sustaining the decision of the chair on a point of order raised by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, thus removing the Supreme Court exception created in 2013. ^[49] This established a new precedent which allowed cloture to be invoked on Supreme Court nominations by a simple majority. ^[50] The vote came after Senate Democrats filibustered the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court of the United States. ^[51]

2019: Postcloture time on low-level nominations

On April 3, 2019, in response to a perceived increase in postcloture filibusters by Senate Democrats on President Trump's executive and judicial nominations, the Republican-majority Senate voted 51-49 to overturn a ruling of the chair and thus set a precedent that postcloture debate on nominations—other than those to the Supreme Court of the United States, to the United States courts of appeals and to positions at Level I of the Executive Schedule—is two hours. All Republicans except Senators Susan Collins and Mike Lee voted against sustaining the decision of the chair. ^[52]

Proposed use for legislation

Following elimination of the 60-vote rule for nominations in 2013, senators expressed concerns that the 60-vote rule will eventually be eliminated for legislation via the nuclear option. ^[53]

While President, Donald Trump spoke out against the 60-vote requirement for legislation on several occasions. Then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell opposed abolishing the filibuster despite Trump's demands, and in April 2017, 61 senators (32 Republicans, 28 Democrats, and one independent) ^[54] signed a letter stating their opposition to abolishing the filibuster for legislation. ^[55] On January 21, 2018, Trump said on Twitter that if the shutdown stalemate continued, Republicans should consider the "nuclear option" in the Senate. ^[56] He repeated the call on December 21, 2018, with a fresh shutdown looming. ^[57]

Concerns about abolishing the filibuster through the nuclear option were reiterated in 2021 as the Democratic-majority Senate could attempt to eliminate the filibuster through the nuclear option. ^[58] On January 3, 2022, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that the Senate would vote on using the nuclear option to reform the filibuster in order to pass his party's election reform legislation. ^{[59] [60]} On January 19, 2022, Schumer made a point of order that would have allowed a 'talking filibuster' on a voting rights bill without any other dilatory measures. The Senate voted 52–48 to sustain the decision of the chair overruling the point of order. Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema voted with all Republicans in favor of sustaining the decision of the chair. ^[59]

As of May 2024 ^[update] , the nuclear option has not been used to abolish the filibuster on legislation. ^[61]

In September 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris has called for ending the filibuster to enact abortion legislation. ^{[62] [63]}

Other uses of "nuclear option"

After the appointment of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States, a proposed countermove to increase the size of the Supreme Court past nine seats (and thereby create new vacancies) was also described as a "nuclear option". ^{[64] [65]}

Beyond the specific context of the U.S. Senate, the term "nuclear option" has come to be used generically for a procedural maneuver with potentially serious consequences, to be used as a last resort to overcome political opposition. The term has been used in connection with procedural maneuvers in various state senates. ^{[66] [67] [68] [69] [70]}

In a 2005 legal ruling on the validity of the Hunting Act 2004 ^[71] the UK House of Lords, sitting in its judicial capacity, used "nuclear option" to describe the events of 1832, when the then-government threatened to create hundreds of new Whig peers to force the Tory-dominated Lords to accept the Reform Act 1832. (Nuclear weapons were not theorized until the 20th century, so the government's threat was not labeled as "nuclear" at the time.)

See also

• United States federal judge
• Judicial appointment history for United States federal courts
• Cloture
• George W. Bush judicial appointment controversies
• George W. Bush Supreme Court candidates
• Reconciliation (United States Congress)
• Up or down vote

References

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15. Radelat, Ana (May 23, 2003). "Lott aims to change filibuster rules: Senator says stalling of Pickering's nomination, others "cannot stand"". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved April 26, 2005.^{[ dead link ]}
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17. Bolton, Alexander (November 13, 2012). "Dems short on votes for filibuster reform". The Hill. Retrieved November 14, 2012. Supporters call it the constitutional option, but it is well-known as the "nuclear" option for the meltdown in partisan relations that it could affect.
18. Noah, Timothy (January 25, 2010). "Going Nuclear: A risky (but justifiable) path to passing health care reform". Slate.
19. Gold, Martin B.; Gupta, Dimple (Fall 2004). "The Constitutional Option to Change Senate Rules and Procedures: A Majoritarian Means to Over Come the Filibuster" (PDF). 28. Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy: 205. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 13, 2013. Sets forth the history of the constitutional option in the U.S. Overview of the Senate rules governing debate; History of the filibuster{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) Alt URL
20. Glowka, Wayne; et al. (2005). "Among the new words". American Speech. 80 (4): 406–424. doi:10.1215/00031283-80-4-406.
21. MANU RAJU (November 25, 2012). "GOP warns of shutdown over filibuster". Politico. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
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23. Alexandra Jaffe (November 15, 2012). "Warren pledges to lead filibuster reform". The Hill / Ballot Box: The Hill's Campaign Blog. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
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25. "Senate approves bipartisan deal clamping modest restrictions on filibusters". Washington Post. Associated Press. January 24, 2013. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
26. Bresnahan, John. "Senate heads toward 'nuclear option'". Politico. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
27. "McCain claims Senate leaders have deal to avert showdown over Obama nominees". FoxNews. July 16, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
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29. "On the Decision of the Chair (shall decision of chair stand re: hutchison amdt. no. 336)". United States Senate. March 16, 1995. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
30. Wallner, James (October 3, 2018). "Nothing Is Inevitable in the Senate". Legislative Procedure. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
31. Rybicki, Elizabeth (November 27, 2017). Senate Rules Restricting the Content of Conference Reports (Report). Archived from the original on April 16, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
32. "On the Decision of the Chair (shall the decision of the chair stand? Re: conf. rept. to H.R. 3539)". United States Senate. October 3, 1996. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
33. 114  Stat.   2763A–198 (Pub. L. Tooltip Public Law (United States)  106–554 (text) (PDF))
34. "Congressional Record: Senate, Nov. 21, 2013" (PDF). www.congress.gov. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
35. Arenberg, Richard A. (January 4, 2017). "Why Republicans Shouldn't Weaken the Filibuster". The New York Times .
36. Heitshusen, Valerie (December 6, 2013). Majority Cloture for Nominations: Implications and the "Nuclear" Proceedings of November 21, 2013 (Report). Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
37. Ryan Grim; Michael McAuliff (2013-11-21). "Senate Votes For Nuclear Option". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
38. Peters, Jeremy W. (November 21, 2013). "In Landmark Vote, Senate Limits Use of the Filibuster". The New York Times .
39. "GOP's existential test: Why they're really escalating a nuclear option crisis". Salon.com.
40. Richard S. Beth and Elizabeth Rybicki. "Nominations with Cloture Motions". Congressional Research Service (November 21, 2013).
41. Kessler, Glenn. "Has Mitch McConnell ‘blocked the Senate’ over 400 times?", The Washington Post (October 29, 2013):

    Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) often files cloture on multiple bills or nominations at once to speed things along even if no one is slowing things down....A number of the cloture motions that Reid has filed were intended to speed things up, to suit his parliamentary preferences....

42. Hook, Janet and Peterson, Kristina. "Senate Adopts New Rules on Filibusters", The Wall Street Journal (November 21, 2013).
43. "Do Obama Nominees Face Stiffer Senate Opposition?", The Wall Street Journal (November 21, 2013).
44. McMillion, Barry. "President Obama’s First-Term U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominations: An Analysis and Comparison with Presidents Since Reagan", Congressional Research Service (May 2, 2013).
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47. Heitshusen, Valerie (April 14, 2017). Senate Proceedings Establishing Majority Cloture for Supreme Court Nominations: In Brief (PDF) (Report). Congressional Research Service . Retrieved September 22, 2020. Senator McConnell made a point of order that the precedent [...] applied a majority vote cloture threshold to all nominations. [...] [T]he presiding officer did not sustain the point of order. Senator McConnell appealed the ruling of the chair.
48. "Roll Call Vote 115th Congress - 1st Session". senate.gov. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022.
49. Heitshusen, Valerie (April 14, 2017). Senate Proceedings Establishing Majority Cloture for Supreme Court Nominations: In Brief (PDF) (Report). Congressional Research Service . Retrieved September 22, 2020. The presiding officer then put the appeal of the ruling to the Senate for a vote, stating "Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the judgement of the Senate?" On the question of upholding the chair, the Senate voted 48-52, thereby overturning the ruling (and establishing the new precedent).
50. Killough, Ashley; Barrett, Ted (April 7, 2017). "Senate GOP triggers nuclear option to break Democratic filibuster on Gorsuch". CNN . Washington, D.C. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
51. Berman, Russell (April 6, 2017). "Republicans Abandon the Filibuster to Save Neil Gorsuch" . Retrieved April 29, 2017.
52. Snell, Kelsey (April 3, 2019). "Senate Rewrites Rules To Speed Confirmations For Some Trump Nominees". NPR. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
53. Kane, Paul (November 21, 2013). "Reid, Democrats trigger 'nuclear' option; eliminate most filibusters on nominees". Washington Post. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
54. "Senators sign letter to preserve filibuster rules".
55. "Trump calls for end to filibuster, says Senate Republicans "look like fools"". CBS News . July 29, 2017.
56. "Trump Says GOP May Need to Use 'Nuclear Option': Shutdown Update". Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg L.P. January 21, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
57. "Trump vows 'very long' government shutdown over border wall". BBC News. December 21, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
58. Hulse, Carl (January 25, 2021). "McConnel Relents in First Filibuster Skirmish, but the War Rages On". The New York Times. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
59. "Why Schumer picked a filibuster fight he couldn't win". Politico .
60. Hughes, Siobhan (January 3, 2022). "Chuck Schumer Sets Mid-January Deadline for Possible Filibuster Changes". Wall Street Journal. ISSN   0099-9660 . Retrieved January 3, 2022.
61. Reynolds, Molly E. (September 9, 2020). "What is the Senate filibuster, and what would it take to eliminate it?". Brookings Institution . Retrieved September 23, 2020.
62. Messerly, Megan (September 24, 2024). "Harris backs ending filibuster for abortion rights legislation". Politico . Retrieved September 25, 2024.
63. Samuels, Brett (September 24, 2024). "Harris calls for ending filibuster for abortion rights". The Hill . Retrieved September 25, 2024.
64. "Court Packing: An Ill-Fated Reform". October 7, 2020.
65. "Calm before storm? How Senate could change after Barrett confirmation". Christian Science Monitor.
66. Dennis Cauchon (March 9, 2011). "Wis. Republicans vote without Dems". USA Today. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
67. Mark Trumbull (March 9, 2011). "Did Wisconsin Senate choose nuclear option in collective-bargaining fight?". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
68. David Usborne (March 11, 2011). "Wisconsin Republicans 'exercise nuclear option' to pass union-busting law". The Independent. London. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
69. Andrew Thomason (May 30, 2011). "Workers' comp bill dies in Illinois House, 'Nuclear' option looms". FOX Illinois.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
70. "Bradley:Workers' comp overhaul still alive". The Southern Illinoisan. AP. May 31, 2011. Retrieved November 24, 2012. Bradley says that so-called "nuclear option" is still a possibility. The Illinois Senate could vote on it Tuesday, the final day of the legislative session.
71. Jackson and others v. Her Majesty's Attorney General [2005] UKHL 56, 13 October 2005

External links

Supportive of nuclear option

• M. Gold & D. Gupta, The Constitutional Option to Change Senate Rules and Procedures: a Majoritarian Means to Overcome the Filibuster in the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy; 28 Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy 205 (2004) (arguing that the nuclear/constitutional option it is firmly grounded in Senate history) (PDF file)
• William G. Dauster, “The Senate in Transition or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Nuclear Option,” N.Y.U. Journal of Legislation & Public Policy, volume 19 (number 4) (December 2016): pages 631–83 (explaining Senator Reid's use of the nuclear option).
• Policy Analysis by Senate Republican Policy Committee summarizing arguments and reviewing history
• National Review's Bench Memos
• Senator George Allen (R-VA) Calls Democrats Bluff

Opposed to nuclear option

• Center for American Progress: Nuclear Option Resource Guide
• CivilRights.org: a coalition representing 180 national organizations
• Home Page for Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev)
• Independent Judiciary
• Senator Reid's Letter to Bill Frist
• Washington Post article on Republican's 1968 Fortas filibuster
• Hatching a New Filibuster Precedent: The Senator from Utah's Revisionist history John Dean writes for FindLaw arguing that Orrin Hatch has attempted to mischaracterize the Abe Fortas nomination filibuster.
• Revenge of the Frist
• MoveOn.org Emergency Petition to Save the Courts
• Myth and fact sheets
  • Filibustering the Truth

Other

• David Law & Lawrence B. Solum, "Judicial Selection, Appointments Gridlock, and the Nuclear Option," (April 14, 2006).
• History of U.S. House Committee on Rules
• History of U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
• Standing Rules of The Senate
• TIME: The Filibuster Formula
• Politics and justice for all: Court nomination fights predate Bork, Thomas