Besides the fact that most members do not attend the General Assemblies, this lack was also due to the timing of the vote: the final vote was taken on the last day of the 10-day event, after many participants had left or were preparing to leave.
The timing of the votes on Capitol Hill is crucial.
The timing of the votes is not yet clear and depends on the number of people who want to speak in the debate – likely to be a good number.
The apparent timing of the votes came despite the objections of some Council members, who believed it created an unseemly appearance, and could undermine what they believe is the sound policy of the pay bill, according to several people familiar with the conversations.
At the same time, the White House's actions suggest that Mr. Bush is approaching the United Nations vote much as he has approached big votes in Congress: Setting aside time to twist arms and cajole, and leaving open the exact timing of the vote until it works to his maximum advantage.
Cameron agreed to Salmond's timing of the vote, to the wording of the referendum question, and that the voting age for the referendum should be lowered to 16.
The prime minister agreed to Salmond's timing of the vote, to the wording of the referendum question, and to lowering the voting age for the referendum to 16, and Salmond relinquished his demand for a second question that would have given the Scots the option of backing more powers for the Scottish Parliament if a majority of Scots rejected full independence.
The Westminster government is said to be ready to concede the timing of the vote in 2014, and allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to vote, provided there is just a single question on whether Scotland should become an independent state.
The sweeping support for Srinivasan was no surprise -- Thursday's 97-0 vote came after he unanimously passed the Senate Judiciary Committee last week -- but the timing of the vote was.
Parliamentary officials said the timing of the vote itself was still unclear but would probably come some time in the afternoon.
