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In many cases, the Senate votes by voice vote; the presiding officer puts the question, and Members respond either "Aye!" (in favor of the motion) or "No!" (against the motion). The presiding officer then announces the result of the voice vote. Any senator, however, may challenge the presiding officer's assessment and request a recorded vote ...
The presiding officer then announces who appeared to win the vote ("The ayes [noes] appear to have it."). [25] One variation of a voice vote is for the presiding officer to state: "Without objection the amendment [bill, resolution, motion, etc.] is agreed to [or not agreed to]."
In some legislatures, a casting vote may be exercised however the presiding officer wishes.For example, the vice president of the United States may exercise their casting vote when the Senate is evenly divided according to their own personal beliefs; by virtue of the vice president's political leanings and affiliations, the vice president's political party is able to serve as the majority ...
Mason's Manual provides, "A presiding officer who has been elected by the house may be removed by the house upon a majority vote of all the members elected, and a new presiding officer pro tempore elected and qualified. When there is no fixed term of office, an officer holds office at the pleasure of the body, or until a successor is elected ...
After debate on that motion has ended (and the motion itself has either been put up to a vote or withdrawn), the Presiding Officer shall call upon the Member whose name is the second to appear on the Order Paper, and the process is repeated until either all motions on the Order Paper have been debated or the sitting has been adjourned. [61] [62]
The United States Constitution establishes the vice president as president of the Senate, with the authority to cast a tie-breaking vote. Early vice presidents took an active role in regularly presiding over proceedings of the body, with the president pro tempore only being called on during the vice president's absence.
Both houses use voice voting to decide most matters; members shout out "aye!" or "no!", and the presiding officer announces the result. The Constitution, however, requires a recorded vote on the demand of one-fifth of the members present. If the result of the voice vote is unclear, or if the matter is controversial, a recorded vote usually ensues.
Upon a successful motion to go into a committee of the whole, the presiding officer designates a member to preside over the committee and yields the chair. The committee may proceed on the referred subject by debating it, considering amendments, or adopting recommendations. To conclude its proceedings, the committee votes to "rise and report."