A previous version of this item incorrectly stated that the vote was on a party-line basis.

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The Senate voted Thursday to change the chamber's rules to allow simple majority votes on executive and judicial nominees. The move, known as the nuclear option, was proposed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. It followed Democrats' frustration with Republicans' requiring several of President Barack Obama's nominees to meet a filibuster-proof 60-vote threshold to advance. The simple-majority rule would not apply to Supreme Court nominees or to legislation. A total of 52 senators voted to change the rules, and 48 voted against.