How We Score Procedural Actions
The Senate operates largely on unanimous consent—the assumption that all 100 senators agree to proceed. When any single senator objects, the chamber must use time-consuming procedural workarounds. These objections, along with quorum calls, motions to adjourn, cloture votes, and other tactics, are the tools of procedural resistance. We track them all.
What We Track
UC OBJECTION
5-85When a senator says "I object" to a unanimous consent request, forcing the chamber to use time-consuming procedural alternatives like cloture votes.
EXTENDED DEBATE
15-75Filibuster-style extended floor speeches designed to consume time and delay action on pending business.
HOLD ANNOUNCED
15-75A senator announces they are placing a hold on a nomination or legislation, signaling intent to object to any unanimous consent request.
POINT OF ORDER
25-75A challenge to Senate procedure that requires the presiding officer to rule, which can delay proceedings and force procedural debates.
MOTION TO ADJOURN
25-75A motion to end the session for the day, which can be used strategically to delay proceedings when votes are imminent.
RECORDED VOTE DEMAND
5-75Demanding a recorded roll call vote instead of a voice vote, requiring all senators to be present and vote individually.
QUORUM CALL
5-65A senator suggests the absence of a quorum, pausing floor proceedings until enough senators are present. Often used tactically to delay action.
AMENDMENT FILING
5-65Filing amendments to legislation, especially in volume. Can be used to extend debate and force additional votes.
MOTION TO RECOMMIT
15-65A motion to send legislation back to committee, which can delay or kill a bill by removing it from floor consideration.
CLOTURE OPPOSITION
15-65Actions opposing or delaying cloture (the motion to end debate), which requires 60 votes to overcome.
PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY
25-45Asking the presiding officer for a procedural ruling, which can slow proceedings and set up points of order.
Scoring Philosophy
Not all procedural actions are equal. A UC objection that forces a cloture vote consumes far more floor time than a routine quorum call. Our scoring weighs:
- Estimated floor time impact — How many minutes of Senate time does this action typically consume?
- Apparent strategic intent — Is this a routine procedural move or a deliberate delay tactic?
- Context and consequence — Does this action force additional votes, extend debate, or block other business?
We're transparent about these judgments—you can see the reasoning for every single classification.
Scoring Details
Each procedural action is scored on a 0-100 scale based on its apparent intent and impact. A senator's total score is the sum of all their individual actions.
Individual Action Scores (0-100)
Cumulative Totals
On senator profiles and rankings, you'll see total scores which are the sum of all individual actions. A senator with 50 actions averaging 30 points each would have a total of 1,500. Higher totals indicate more frequent or more aggressive use of procedural tactics.
Limitations
We believe in being upfront about what this tracker can and cannot tell you:
- This measures floor activity, not effectiveness or intent. A high score means a senator is using procedural tools frequently—it doesn't mean they're "winning" or that their causes are just.
- Some tactics happen behind the scenes. Holds, for example, are often communicated privately. We can only track what appears in the public record.
- Classification isn't perfect. We flag low-confidence scores and welcome corrections. If you spot an error, please contact us.
- Context matters. A procedural action that looks obstructionist in isolation might be a legitimate response to majority overreach. We provide the data; you provide the judgment.
Questions or Corrections?
We're committed to accuracy and transparency. If you have questions about our methodology or have spotted an error, please reach out.
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