Tuberville is showing how much power one lawmaker wields under Senate rules

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• How can one senator do this alone?

• unanimous consent.

• "the Senate's rules grant incredibly powerful privileges to all Senators ... that greatly affect how and if the chamber schedules" floor action on any subject.

• the Senate relies heavily on consent agreements negotiated by the party leaders.

• . Such "unanimous consent agreements" have evolved to be a crucial means of bringing Senate business to the floor for formal consideration.

• Schumer

• McConnell

• power is restrained by Senate rules and traditions and by the sentiments of their respective caucuses.

• If the issue here were an ordinary piece of legislation, the leaders would seek a unanimous consent agreement that would bring that matter to the floor. Individual senators may object to that with a notice that they seek "extended debate" on that legislation. This is an implicit threat to filibuster, and the majority leader routinely files a cloture petition and holds a vote. If cloture fails, the legislation does not go to the floor. If three-fifths of the Senate supports cloture, the legislation can be brought to the floor with time limits on debate.

• Tuberville's maneuver has the effect of freezing confirmations for the current backlog presidential nominations because they are submitted in batches for group consideration and approval. The batching procedure itself requires unanimous consent, allowing even one senator to stand in the way.