Graphical description of policy making in the US

A graphical description of what the US Congress must do in order to prevent government shutdown by October 1st. It is very far from the simple "majority voting equilibrium" I am used to play with...

What Congress Must Do to Avoid a Shutdown

The House on Friday passed a bill that would keep the government open through Dec. 15, but only if the health care law is stripped of all financing. That sent the fight to the Senate, where the most ardent conservatives, led by Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, began waging a procedural war to stretch out the debate. Here is what needs to happen before financing runs out Sept. 30. Related Article »

... by Monday

... by Sunday

... by Saturday

... by Wednesday

    or Thursday

To avoid shutdown, this

would need to happen

by Wednesday.

Boehner could send bill

back to Senate with

additional Republican

policy language.

Government

would shut

down Oct 1.

Fails

Government

would be financed

through Nov. 15.

Passes

Republicans could

waive 30-hour

requirement.

Would set in motion 30 hours

of debate before senators

could consider the actual bill.

Republicans could

waive 30-hour

requirement.

Fails

Passes

Reid would call up amendment.

Needs 51 votes.

Would set in motion 30 hours

of debate before senators

could consider the actual bill.

Fails (unlikely)

Passes

John A. Boehner, the

House speaker, could call

for vote on Senate bill.

If it gets to this point, the Senate is

expected to pass the amended bill

and send it back to the House.

Second and final vote

to cut off debate.

Needs 60 votes.

Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader,

would introduce an amendment stripping

the health care language from the House

spending bill — essentially a substitute

bill. He may also add provisions intended

to attract Republican votes.

First Senate vote to cut off

debate on motion to take

up House spending bill.

Needs 60 votes.

By KAREN YOURISH