What is a Senate “vote-a-rama?”

This appeared in The Millennial Source

It isn’t just a cutesy term used by journalists but one that has become the official name for a process that can last upward of 30 hours.

If there’s one topic that can unite most Americans, it’s an abiding dislike of Congress. Much of that disdain is rooted in the view that the United States’ legislative body rarely gets anything of substance done as it is too often hampered by gridlock and political infighting. In recent years, that inability — or unwillingness — to legislate has been especially apparent in the Senate.

Which is why, when the Senate does jump into action, it can be a curious but confusing event. One of the most concentrated periods of action for the chamber is the marathon voting session known as a “vote-a-rama” (alternatively, “vote-o-rama”). It isn’t just a cutesy term used by journalists but one that has become the official name for a process that can last upward of 30 hours.

Last week, a Senate vote-a-rama culminated in the approval of the most recent round of COVID-19 stimulus proposed by President Joe Biden. More steps remain before the package is officially passed and another round of stimulus checks are sent out, but with the conclusion of the recent marathon Senate session, which lasted from Thursday to Friday morning, one major hurdle has been…