A tie vote in the Supreme Court ordinarily simply affirms the lower court decision, without issuing an opinion or setting a precedent.

"This vote will affirm to the rest of the country and the entire world that Houston will remain a city of opportunity."

A tie vote affirms the lower court's decision without setting a Supreme Court precedent.

The vote affirmed the position taken Monday by the association's assembly - that is, all A.B.A. members who showed up for the annual meeting here.

A tie vote in the Supreme Court legally affirms a lower court's opinion, resolving the particular legal dispute without setting a general precedent.

Under the court's rules, a tie vote affirms the lower court's decision in the particular case, but is not binding as a precedent for other cases.

"This vote affirms Hill's power as a guy who can deliver his union," said Mitchell Moss, director of New York University's Urban Research Center.

A1 News analysis: The vote in Congress affirmed President Bush's policy, as those who had fought for sanctions rather than war vowed to stand behind him regardless.

Last fall's vote affirmed the identity of Staten Islanders, which is to say it was a tribute to their contradictions - to a psyche that pirouettes on paradox.