<P> Before November 2013 , Senate rules required a three - fifths vote of the `` duly chosen and sworn '' members of the Senate ( usually 60 votes ) to end debate on a bill , nomination or other proposal ; they also require a two - thirds vote ( `` present and voting '' -- 67 or more votes ) to end debate on a change to the Senate rules . Those rules effectively allowed a minority of the Senate to block a bill or nomination through the technique of the filibuster . This had resulted in a de facto requirement that a nomination have the support of 60 Senators to pass , rather than a majority of 51 . A three - fifths majority vote is still required to end debates on legislation . Before April 2017 , Senate rules required a three - fifths vote to confirm nominations for Supreme Court nominees . </P>
<P> Before November 2013 , Senate rules required a three - fifths vote of the `` duly chosen and sworn '' members of the Senate ( usually 60 votes ) to end debate on a bill , nomination or other proposal ; they also require a two - thirds vote ( `` present and voting '' -- 67 or more votes ) to end debate on a change to the Senate rules . Those rules effectively allowed a minority of the Senate to block a bill or nomination through the technique of the filibuster . This had resulted in a de facto requirement that a nomination have the support of 60 Senators to pass , rather than a majority of 51 . A three - fifths majority vote is still required to end debates on legislation . Before April 2017 , Senate rules required a three - fifths vote to confirm nominations for Supreme Court nominees . </P>
amount of votes needed to pass a bill in the senate
amount of votes needed to pass a bill in the senate
three - fifths vote of the `` duly chosen and sworn '' members of the Senate
three - fifths vote of the `` duly chosen and sworn '' members of the Senate