COLUMBIA - The state Senate imposed new rules on itself Tuesday aimed at making it easier to shut down extended debate that stymies votes and harder for one member to prevent consideration of a bill.

The changes, forced through on the first day of the session, will have little direct effect on residents, but proponents say it will make the Senate more efficient and able to make changes that citizens want.

"The people of South Carolina are looking to us to get something done," said Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens. As chairman of the Rules Committee, he led the floor debate on the changes.

Martin said bills supported by a majority have died in the past because of rules that allow one member to prevent a bill being taken up or to stop debate with a filibuster.

"We've let one senator bully the whole crowd," said Sen. Verne Smith, R-Greer.

A two-thirds majority of 31 was required to change either of those blocking moves. The new rule requires 26 votes to stop a filibuster or bring up a bill that has been objected to.

Sen. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, said if the Senate does not do something, the public will demand more drastic measures.

Some members opposed the changes, saying free debate is necessary to prevent bad legislation from being rammed through, and the rules favor the GOP majority's programs.

"You're just going to trample down the minority," said Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston.

In a series of votes on amendments to the changes, most Republicans voted for the new rules and most Democrats voted against them. One exception was Sen. Jake Knotts, R-West Columbia, who opposed the changes and offered amendments to soften them.

Sen. Yancey McGill, D-Kingstree, voted with the majority against most of the amendments, as did Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Myrtle Beach, and Sen. Ray Cleary, R-Murrells Inlet. Sen. Dick Elliott, D-North Myrtle Beach, voted in the minority for most of the amendments. The changes passed on an unrecorded voice vote.

Rankin said the rules changes are a mixed bag of good and bad. He could not think of an example of how the rules affected his district but said the changes will affect how the Senate operates.

"Committee work is going to become more important now," he said. "And it will require more coalitions, and should make us work better together."

House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, said the rules changes were not such a big deal. The House ended filibusters nearly 20 years ago.

On Tuesday, Wilkins noted his 25th opening day. He is now fourth in seniority in the House.

The House accepted an election appeal from unsuccessful Democratic candidate Dick Withington. Wilkins sent the appeal to the Judiciary Committee and said he hopes it will be resolved in 30 days.

Today, the House and Senate take up 11 vetoes from Gov. Mark Sanford. A two-thirds majority of both sides is needed to override a veto.

New House member Carl Anderson, D-Georgetown, said "some of them are good bills," but he did not know how things would turn out.