But it's not necessarily 20 hours straight -- Democrats can deploy a series of dilatory tactics to stretch that process out quite a bit. And the Senate likely won't stay in session straight through the 20 hours, so when they break, the clock stops. Once the 20 hours of debate officially comes to an end, then the vote-a-rama starts. Historically, the end of the vote-a-rama would entail a vote on the amended tax bill, then a final vote on the bill. Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain killed that effort in July on an amendment vote earlier than expected.

Source: CNN November 27, 2017 16:07 UTC