The US Senate has approved a resolution along party lines outlining the rules that will govern the impeachment proceedings on President Donald Trump.

The  Senate early on Wednesday voted 53-47 to adopt the trial plan, which allows opening arguments from House lawmakers prosecuting the case to begin later in the day.

Democrats put forth 11 amendments for subpoenas for documents and witnesses. One-by-one,those amendments were debated and then blocked by Senate Republicans holding the 53-47 majority.

Under the rules  passed on Wednesday, evidence from the Democratic House’s impeachment hearings will be included in the record – a Democratic demand. Opening arguments will be followed by 16 hours of questions and answers from senators before four hours of debate.

With Republicans having a majority, the Senate is not expected to get the two-thirds votes needed for conviction. No president has ever been removed from office by the Senate.