In both houses there is debate before the vote, and a majority vote (50% + 1) is required to pass a bill. The biggest difference between the two houses are the time limits. In the House of Representatives, there are strict restrictions for how long a bill can be debated. Time is split evenly between those opposed to the bill and those that support it. In the Senate, things are very different because there is no time limit for discussing the bill. For opponents of the bill, this allows a political stall tactic known as filibustering, when long-winded, often off-topic speeches are used to stall the vote so that the opposition can get enough votes to stop the bill.
