English as National Language or Common and Unifying Language of US?

[BurtWorm]

The Senate voted this morning to agree to both terms. But what is a "national language" exactly? What effect does it have for the Senate to "recognize" English as the "common and unifying language?"

The Inhofe Amendment

Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 4064 to S. 2611 (Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 )

Statement of Purpose: To amend title 4 United States Code, to declare English as the national language of the United States and to promote the patriotic integration of prospective US citizens.

Result of the vote: 63 Yeas to 34 Nays (3 not voting)

Analytical Breakdown: All but one Republican (Domenici-NM) voted for the amendment (except for Martinez-FL and Bunning-KY, who didn't vote); Ten Democrats voted for the amendment (from AR, LA, ND, SD, Carper of DE, and the Nelson twins and Byrd-WV). Jeffords voted with the other Dems, and Rockefeller of WV didn't vote.

The Salazar Amendment

Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 4073 to S. 2611 (Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 )

Statement of Purpose: To declare that English is the common and unifying language of the United States, and to preserve and enhance the role of the English language.

Result of the vote: 58 Yeas to 39 Nays (same 3 not voting)

Analytical Breakdown: All Democrats (but Rockefeller) voted for the Amendment. New England Republicans (Snowe, Collins and Chafee), McCain-AZ, Domenici-NM, Coleman-MN, Warner-VA, and DeWine and Voinovich-OH voted with the Dems, as did Jeffords. Only Republicans voted against it.