<P> In November 2013, Senate Democrats used the nuclear option to eliminate the 60 - vote rule on executive branch nominations and federal judicial appointments (except for appointments to the Supreme Court). 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 . </P> <P> As of January 2018, a three - fifths majority vote is still required to end debates on legislation . </P> <P> Beginning with a rules change in 1806, the Senate has traditionally not restricted the total time allowed for debate . In 1917, Rule XXII was amended to allow for ending debate (invoking "cloture") with a two - thirds majority, later reduced in 1975 to three - fifths of all senators "duly chosen and sworn" (usually 60). Thus, although a bill might have majority support, a minority of 41 or more senators can still prevent a final vote through endless debate, effectively defeating the bill . This tactic is known as a filibuster . </P> <P> Since the 1970s, the Senate has also used a "two - track" procedure whereby Senate business may continue on other topics while one item is filibustered . Since filibusters no longer required the minority to actually hold the floor and bring all other business to a halt, the mere threat of a filibuster has gradually become normalized . In the modern Senate, this means that any controversial item now typically requires 60 votes to advance, unless a specific exception limiting the time for debate applies . </P>

When was the nuclear option used in the senate