Filibuster in the United States Senate

Uncommon card · No. 103405

A filibuster is a tactic used in the United States Senate to delay or block a vote on a measure by preventing debate on it from ending. The Senate's rules place few restrictions on debate. In general, if no other senator is speaking, a senator who seeks recognition is entitled to speak for as long as they wish. Only when debate concludes, whether naturally or using cloture, can the measure be put to a vote. Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the United States Senate allows the Senate to vote to limit debate by invoking cloture on the pending question. In most cases this requires three-fifths of the senators duly chosen and sworn (60 votes if there is no more than one vacancy), which means a minority of senators can block a measure, even if it has the support of a simple majority. Once cloture has been invoked, in most cases debate can continue for a further 30 hours, and most major bills are subject to two or three filibusters before the Senate can vote on passage. Even bills supported...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Harris & Ewing, photographer, Public domain