Gang of 14

The Gang of 14 (sometimes called the Mod Squad, with "mod" standing for "moderate") was a term coined to describe the bipartisan group of moderate Senators who successfully negotiated a compromise to avoid the deployment of the so-called nuclear option over the organized use of the filibuster by Senate Democrats in opposition to judicial nominees in the U.S. Senate. It consists of 7 Republicans and 7 Democrats and led by Sens. Ben Nelson (D- Nebraska) and John McCain (R-Arizona). The informal group was active again in July 2005, attempting to advise Bush on the choice of a nominee to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Related Topics:
Bipartisan - Senators - Nuclear option - Filibuster - Democrats - Republicans - Democrats - Ben Nelson - Nebraska - John McCain - Arizona - Sandra Day O'Connor

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The Gang of 14 made an agreement whereby the seven Democrats would no longer vote along with their party on filibustering judicial nominees (except in "extraordinary circumstances," which some interpret to refer to nominees to the Supreme Court), and in turn the seven Republicans would break with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and the Republican leadership on voting for the "nuclear option." Due to the near-tie in votes between the two parties, the agreement of these Senators practically prevents either side from winning a simple majority to pass either the filibuster or the change to parliamentary rules. While infuriating the party leaderships, the group were hailed as moderates who put aside the severe partisanship to do what was best for the Senate.

Related Topics:
Supreme Court - Senate Majority Leader - Bill Frist - Partisanship

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The deal has been strongly criticized by both Democratic and Republican partisans. Nevertheless, the compromise precludes further filibusters or the nuclear option for as long as the Gang of 14 holds together.

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The name may be loosely derived from the Gang of Four, a group of Communist Party officials who were accused of abuse of power in China during the 1970s.

Related Topics:
Gang of Four - Communist Party - China - 1970s

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