How many votes in the Senate are required to ratify a negotiated treaty?

To ratify a negotiated treaty, the U.S. Constitution requires a two-thirds majority of the Senators present. This requirement is outlined in Article II, Section 2, which states that the President shall have the power to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present concur. This high threshold emphasizes the importance of treaties and ensures a substantial consensus among the Senate, reflecting the seriousness and long-term implications that treaties may have on the nation.

A simple majority would not suffice because it might not reflect a strong enough agreement, especially on matters of national interest that treaties often encompass. A three-fifths vote is commonly associated with certain legislative processes, like overcoming a filibuster in the Senate, but it does not apply to treaty ratification. Similarly, requiring a unanimous vote is impractical and would make it exceedingly difficult to ratify treaties, potentially paralyzing the treaty-making process. Thus, the requirement for a two-thirds majority strikes a balance between facilitating diplomacy and ensuring broad support among the legislative branch.