This vote was a motion to invoke "cloture" on a presidential nomination (PN345-20). In the U.S. Senate, cloture is a procedural step used to limit further debate and prevent a filibuster, which is when a minority of senators prevents a vote from happening by continuing to speak. By approving this motion, the Senate has agreed to set a time limit on the debate and move forward. For most people who don't follow politics, this type of vote can be confusing because it is not the final vote on the person being appointed. Instead, it is a vote about whether the Senate is finished talking about the appointment. Since 2013, most executive and judicial nominations only require a simple majority of senators to end debate, rather than the 60 votes usually required for other legislation. Because the motion was agreed to with a 51-45 vote, the Senate will now proceed to a final "up or down" confirmation vote. The party breakdown was mixed; while the Democratic majority supported the motion, the Republican caucus was split, with about half voting to end debate and the other half voting to continue it.