This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. There were nuances to this literal use of nuclear option. Information and translations of nuclear option in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Delivered to your inbox! The rules for adding compound terms to the dictionary are pretty clear for dictionary editors. Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way. “Nuclear option.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nuclear%20option. Figurative use of the term 'nuclear option' is relatively new, 9 Pairs of Words That Look the Same But Different, Set your young readers up for lifelong success, Study Up With Our Official SCRABBLE Dictionary. Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible). Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Exercising this ", If the president rams through his pick despite vociferous calls to wait until after the election, there is a, The biggest reason for MiLB’s changed tone, three people familiar with the negotiations said, was the growing belief that M.L.B. ©2020 FOX News Network, LLC. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. In November 2013, Senate Democrats used the nuclear option to eliminate the 60-vote rule on executive branch nominations and federal judicial appointments other than those to the Supreme Court. The option is invoked when the majority leader raises a point-of-order that only a simple majority is needed to close debate on certain matters. Maddow breaks down debate performances, shush
What does nuclear option expression mean? Send us feedback. Definition of nuclear option. The term "nuclear option" is an analogy to nuclear weapons being the most extreme option in warfare. nuclear option synonyms, nuclear option pronunciation, nuclear option translation, English dictionary definition of nuclear option. “The Nuclear Option (or constitutional option) is a parliamentary procedure that allows the United States Senate to override a rule – specifically the 60-vote rule to close debate – by a simple majority of 51 votes, rather than the two-thirds supermajority normally required to amend the rules. Accessed 30 Sep. 2020. It could also refer to the possibility of acquiring nuclear weapons: The Swiss electorate this weekend rejected by an overwhelming majority a Socialist proposal requiring approval by referendum of any Parliamentary decision to equip the Swiss Army with nuclear weapons.—The Guardian (Manchester, England), 27 May 1963. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Read on for a look at how the nuclear option could change the Senate. Are We Entering 'Uncharted' or 'Unchartered' Waters. By the mid-1960s, nuclear option had achieved fixed-phrase status and was in the news regarding NATO’s tactical weapons defense strategy in eastern Europe, Israel’s consideration of acquiring nuclear weapons, and discussions of their use in the Vietnam War. 1 : the option of using nuclear weapons in war … it is now unimaginable that we would use anything approaching the full measure of our military power (the nuclear option aside) in … Definition of nuclear option in the Idioms Dictionary. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Learn a new word every day. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Legal Statement. In April 2017, Senate Republicans used the nuclear option to eliminate the exception for Supreme Court nominees, after the nomination of Neil Gorsuch failed to meet the requirement of 60 votes for ending the debate.”.
nuclear option phrase. Learn a new word every day. nuclear option noun : a parliamentary procedure by which the requirement of the affirmative votes of a supermajority of senators is changed to require only a simple majority to invoke cloture in order to stop a filibuster and allow a vote on a matter (as a nomination) to proceed. “The Nuclear Option (or constitutional option) is a parliamentary procedure that allows the United States Senate to override a rule – specifically the 60-vote rule to close debate – by a simple majority of 51 votes, rather than the two-thirds supermajority normally required to amend the rules. With a 60-vote threshold, the House-approved spending bill that includes $5.7 billion for a border wall has a slim chance of actually making it out of the Senate. If a compound term has an obvious meaning that derives from the conventional definition of each term—if it is self-explanatory—then it is not added to the dictionary. Legal Statement.
It is sometimes referred to as "talking a bill to death" or "talking out a bill" and is characterized as a form of obstruction in a legislature or other decision-making body. To save this word, you'll need to log in. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. This form of political obstruction reaches as far back as Ancient Roman times and could also be referred to synonymously with political stonewalling.”, Click here to read more about the origin of the Filibuster. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten,
Kaitlyn Schallhorn is a Reporter for Fox News. What made you want to look up nuclear option? The nuclear option — a change of the Senate rules by a simple majority — gained its name because it was seen as an explosive maneuver that would leave political fallout for some time to come. could exercise its, Democrats then tried to filibuster Judge Gorsuch for purely political reasons, all but inviting Republicans to extend the, Post the Definition of nuclear option to Facebook, Share the Definition of nuclear option on Twitter, 9 Pairs of Words That Look the Same But Different. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Meaning of nuclear option. All rights reserved. When a few letters make a large difference. Once in the club, with full voting rights, countries can answer back, leaving their peers with only the, Since Republicans can't muster the 60 votes necessary to overcome this particular filibuster, they now want to use their authority over Senate procedures to abolish the maneuver itself, at least for judicial nominees.
Words We're Watching talks about words we are increasingly seeing in use but that have not yet met our criteria for entry. Click here to read about the origin of the Nuclear Option.
Build a city of skyscrapers—one synonym at a time. Define nuclear option. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. With a simple majority, just 51 senators – or 50, with Vice President Pence serving as a tiebreaker – would be needed to pass a spending bill that includes Trump’s border funding demands. MILES O'BRIEN (Host): In Japan, the bright lights never stop burning. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! What does nuclear option mean? The nuclear option would change Senate precedent, to require only a simple majority to pass a bill as opposed to the 60-vote majority required now. Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words? “A Filibuster is a political procedure where one or more members of parliament or congress debate over a proposed piece of legislation so as to delay or entirely prevent a decision being made on the proposal. ‘Caravans’ coming. Senate Republicans used the nuclear option in 2017 to overcome a Democratic filibuster and confirm Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. … it is now unimaginable that we would use anything approaching the full measure of our military power (the, The EU has most leverage over countries that are desperate to join. “The Nuclear Option has only been used in practice twice. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. TRUMP BACKS CALL TO NUKE FILIBUSTER IN DRIVE TO PASS BORDER WALL $$ AS SHUTDOWN LOOMS. Delivered to your inbox! There were nuances to this literal use of nuclear option. The term nuclear option was initially used with a literal meaning “the option to use nuclear weapons” in the early 1960s, just after the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. Tucker: Biden used 'illusion of reasonableness' at debate to disguise plans to 'tear down our system', Trump claims debate victory over Biden: 'I held Joe accountable for his 47 years of lies', Philadelphia voting machine controls stolen from city warehouse: reports, Senior Democratic leadership urge Biden to continue with debates.
Market data provided by Factset. Fox News' Judson Berger contributed to this report. Debate sparks further debate, logorrhea It wasn’t until 2003, when rules changes were discussed in the Senate about how to break the paralyzing tactic known as the filibuster, that a figurative use of nuclear option began to be applied to the reduction of votes needed to bring an end to debate (known as cloture) to a simple majority of 51, thus ending the minority party’s ability to prevent votes from taking place. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions.
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Market data provided by Factset. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nuclear option.' The presiding officer denies the point of order based on Senate rules, but the ruling of the chair is then appealed and overturned by majority vote, establishing new precedent. Interestingly, the term non-nuclear option was also used at this time, referring to “the option to use conventional weapons.”. Republicans must go to Nuclear Option to pass tough laws NOW,” he tweeted in April. A dictionary definition for nuclear option in this decidedly un-self-explanatory meaning might read as follows: nuclear option noun : a parliamentary procedure by which the requirement of the affirmative votes of a supermajority of senators is changed to require only a simple majority to invoke cloture in order to stop a filibuster and allow a vote on a matter (as a nomination) to proceed. McConnell has repeatedly said he would not go this route on legislation. Biden gives aside during debate. “Border Patrol Agents are not allowed to properly do their job at the Border because of ridiculous liberal (Democrat) laws like Catch & Release. Given its frequent and established use, this phrase is likely to be included sometime soon in our dictionaries. With a partial government shutdown imminent, Trump urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to implement the so-called "nuclear option" to pass a spending bill that includes the $5 billion he’s demanded for the border wall. Such a drastic change would likely struggle to pick up enough support – even among Senate Republicans. or redistributed. It was former Senate majority leader Harry Reid who first used the nuclear option in 2013 when he lowered the threshold of votes needed for nominees for federal court and other top positions.