Yeas And Nays

ones in favor and the ones opposed

hesitancy, wavering, "sitting on the fence", being unsure what stance to take

A recorded vote is a vote in which the names of those voting for and against a motion may be recorded. In many deliberative bodies (e.g. the United States Congress), questions may be decided by voice vote, but the voice vote does not allow one to determine at a later date which members voted for and against the motion. Upon the demand of any member, a division may be held; the members supporting and opposing the motion stand successively and are counted. However, even in the rarely used division procedure, the names of the individuals voting on each side are not officially recorded. A recorded vote, under the Constitution, may be obtained upon the demand of one-fifth of the members present. Other methods may be provided by Rules of the Houses.
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The list of members of a legislative body voting in the affirmative and negative of a proposition is so called.

The Constitution of the United States, Art. 1 directs that "the yeas and nays of the members of either house, on any question, shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be entered on the journal."

The power of calling the yeas and nays is given by all the Constitutions of the several states, and it is not in general restricted to the request of one-fifth of the members present, but may be demanded by a less number and, in some, one member alone has the right to require the call of the yeas and nays.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.

VOTI FAVOREVOLI E VOTI CONTRARI