Talk:Nuclear option

"The matter then goes immediately to the full senate". Does someone have to raise a point of order and/or an appeal from the decision of the presiding officer in order for it to go before the full Senate? Dhdidnac 03:02, 21 December 2013 (EST)

The Robert's Rules equivalent to the the nuclear option is "appeal from the ruling of the chair." Congress used this back in the 19th century. Nowadays, an appeal is debatable, so that doesn't work. The modern procedure is that a member of the majority will make a motion for majority cloture, citing the constitution. A member of the minority will respond with a point of order. The presiding officer will refer the point of order to the body. (If he followed precedent, the presiding officer would rule in favor of the point of order.) Of course, the presiding officer doesn't have to follow this precedent either. What counts is whether or not the majority expresses support for whatever it is he is doing. PeterKa 12:42, 21 December 2013 (EST)