Vote-explainer glossary — every term used in vote analysis
Every term that shows up in ChamberLight's vote-analysis prose has a definition somewhere in this site. This glossary collects them by category for quick reference. Use it when a term in a vote's narrative is unfamiliar.
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Vote types
Passage, cloture, motion to proceed, motion to table, motion to recommit, suspension of the rules, conference report, previous question, rule adoption, sense of resolution, censure, expulsion, treaty ratification, nomination cloture, nomination confirmation, CRA disapproval, war powers, discharge.
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Procedural concepts
Filibuster, cloture, quorum, ping-pong, conference committee, reconciliation, Byrd Rule, vote-a-rama, point of order, parliamentary inquiry, unanimous consent, voice vote, recorded vote.
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Threshold rules
Simple majority of those voting (default), 60-vote three-fifths (Senate cloture on legislation), 2/3 supermajority (suspension / veto override / treaty / expulsion), full chamber count (rare).
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Coalition shapes
Unanimous, party-line, bipartisan majority, ideological cross, regional, procedural noise, mixed.
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Significance tiers
Routine procedural, substantive minor, substantive major, landmark.
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Where to dig deeper
Each term links to a /learn topic page (where one exists) or a glossary popover on the vote detail page itself.