Legal Question in Constitutional Law in Pennsylvania

Federal Government

What happens if when voting on a bill, the Senate or the House of Representatives splits their vote 50/50? For example, if every member of the Senate was present (100) and 50 memebers voted for the bill and 50 memebers voted against it.


Asked on 2/02/07, 9:03 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
John Davidson Law Office of John A. Davidson

Re: Federal Government

Then the vice president gets to vote to break the tie. That could even happen if say 80 members were present and the vote was 40-40.

{John}

Read more
Answered on 2/02/07, 9:07 am
Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

Re: Federal Government

The Vice President, in his capacity as President of the Senate, casts the tie-breaking vote when the Senate is deadlocked. He does not get to vote unless the senators are tied.

A tie in the House means that the bill does not pass. Passage requires a majority vote in favor of the bill, and there is no majority where the vote is evenly split.

Read more
Answered on 2/02/07, 2:49 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Constitutional Law questions and answers in Pennsylvania