What Senate Control Means for Nominations and Laws
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The party with the Senate majority picks the majority leader, who controls which bills and nominations reach the floor, and it holds a majority on every committee. The new majority takes over when the 120th Congress begins on January 3, 2027. Follow the count on who controls Congress.
Nominations: a simple majority
The Senate confirms Cabinet members, ambassadors, federal judges and Supreme Court justices. Since rule changes in 2013 (most nominations) and 2017 (the Supreme Court), a nomination can't be filibustered: 51 votes confirm it, or 50 plus the vice president. So the majority decides which nominees get hearings and votes, and whether they pass.
Legislation: usually 60 votes
The legislative filibuster still applies to most bills: ending debate takes 60 votes. A majority can't pass most laws on its own unless the minority goes along, or the majority changes the rules. Exceptions include budget reconciliation bills, limited to spending and taxes, which pass by simple majority.
Other powers
- Oversight: committees hold hearings and can issue subpoenas.
- Treaties need two-thirds of senators present.
- Impeachment trials happen in the Senate after the House impeaches; removal takes two-thirds.
The Senate can't pass laws alone: bills also need the House and the president's signature, and overriding a veto takes two-thirds of both chambers. See divided government.
Sources: U.S. Senate, "About Filibusters and Cloture"; Congressional Research Service, "Cloture Rules and the Nominations Process".
Questions and answers
How many votes does the Senate need to confirm a nominee?
A simple majority: 51 votes, or 50 plus the vice president. Nominations can't be filibustered since rule changes in 2013 and 2017.
Can the Senate majority pass any bill it wants?
No. Most bills still need 60 votes to end debate under the legislative filibuster, and every bill also needs the House and the president's signature.
When does the new Senate majority take over?
When the 120th Congress begins at noon on January 3, 2027.
More explainers
- What Is the Filibuster? How the Senate's 60-Vote Rule Works
- How a Bill Becomes Law: The Steps in Congress
- How Impeachment Works: The House Charges, the Senate Tries
- How Is the Speaker of the House Elected?
- Divided Government, Explained
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