A debt ceiling senate vote is a vote taken by the United States Senate to raise or suspend the debt ceiling. The debt ceiling is a legal limit on the amount of debt that the U.S. government can borrow. When the debt ceiling is reached, the government cannot borrow any more money to pay its bills, which can lead to a government shutdown and a default on its obligations.
Debt ceiling votes are often contentious, as they can be used by the minority party to force concessions from the majority party. In recent years, debt ceiling votes have become increasingly difficult to pass, as both parties have become more polarized.