Filibuster in the United States

Filibuster in the Legislative Process

A procedural technique used by members of the Senate to block a particular bill by speaking (or threatening to speak) forever, thus preventing progress to a vote. Since the Senate does not set time limits on debate, it is possible for a senator to take the floor and hold it for as long as he can continue talking; only a special cloture vote of three-fifths of the Senate can cut off his time. A successful filibuster can kill legislation otherwise favored by a majority (but not a three-fifths supermajority) of the Senate.

More about Filibuster in the Legislative Process

A procedural device used in the United States Senate to defeat or delay a bill. As senators are generally allowed to speak for unlimited periods of time, a senator may attempt to speak until the bill is removed from consideration. The Senate may invoke “cloture” by a three-fifths vote ending the filibuster and forcing a vote.

Development of the Idea and Details

The situation in which an individual lengthens debate in order to delay or avoid a vote on a certain topic.

Concept of Filibuster

In the U.S., in the context of the U.S. Congress (Senate and House of Representatives), Filibuster has the following meaning: A tactic sometimes used in the Senate to try to kill a bill (or win substantive changes in it). A senator or group of senators may effectively block a vote on a bill by holding the floor for as long as they can speak, since there is no rule limiting debate (unless a motion of cloture is won, requiring 60 votes). (Source of this definition of Filibuster : University of Texas)

Filibuster

Filibuster (in Politics)

Related to political science, the following is a definition of Filibuster in the U.S. practice of politics: An informal term for any attempt to block or delay U.S. Senate action on a bill or other matter by debating it at length, by offering numerous procedural motions, or by any other delaying or obstructive actions.

From the Senate Historical Office: “Using the filibuster to delay or block legislative action has a long history. The term filibuster — from a Dutch word meaning ‘pirate’ — became popular in the 1850s, when it was applied to efforts to hold the Senate floor in order to prevent a vote on a bill.

“In the early years of Congress, representatives as well as senators could filibuster. As the House of Representatives grew in numbers, however, revisions to the House rules limited debate. In the smaller Senate, unlimited debate continued on the grounds that any senator should have the right to speak as long as necessary on any issue.”

Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC) holds the record for the longest filibuster in his attempt to block the 1957 Civil Rights bill. Though he held the floor for 24 hours and 18 minutes, the bill passed just two hours after he stopped talking.

Filibuster Background

Resources

See Also

• Congress
• Senate
• House of Representatives

Filibuster (in Politics)

Related to political science, the following is a definition of Filibuster in the U.S. practice of politics: An informal term for any attempt to block or delay U.S. Senate action on a bill or other matter by debating it at length, by offering numerous procedural motions, or by any other delaying or obstructive actions.

From the Senate Historical Office: “Using the filibuster to delay or block legislative action has a long history. The term filibuster — from a Dutch word meaning ‘pirate’ — became popular in the 1850s, when it was applied to efforts to hold the Senate floor in order to prevent a vote on a bill.

“In the early years of Congress, representatives as well as senators could filibuster. As the House of Representatives grew in numbers, however, revisions to the House rules limited debate. In the smaller Senate, unlimited debate continued on the grounds that any senator should have the right to speak as long as necessary on any issue.”

Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC) holds the record for the longest filibuster in his attempt to block the 1957 Civil Rights bill. Though he held the floor for 24 hours and 18 minutes, the bill passed just two hours after he stopped talking.

Filibuster Background

Resources

See Also

• Legislative Power
• Legislative History
• Legislative Ethics
• Legislative Session
• Legislature
• Legal Aid
• Legislative Commissions
• Legislative Branch
• Legislation
• Executive Branch
• Legislative Function

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Another Filibuster Definition in the Legislative Process

The following is a definition of Filibuster, by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL): The prolonged discussion of a bill to delay legislative action.

Concept of Filibuster

In the U.S., in the context of the U.S. Congress (Senate and House of Representatives), Filibuster has the following meaning: A tactic sometimes used in the Senate to try to kill a bill (or win substantive changes in it). A senator or group of senators may effectively block a vote on a bill by holding the floor for as long as they can speak, since there is no rule limiting debate (unless a motion of cloture is won, requiring 60 votes). (Source of this definition of Filibuster : University of Texas)

Filibuster

Filibuster (in Politics)

Related to political science, the following is a definition of Filibuster in the U.S. practice of politics: An informal term for any attempt to block or delay U.S. Senate action on a bill or other matter by debating it at length, by offering numerous procedural motions, or by any other delaying or obstructive actions.

From the Senate Historical Office: “Using the filibuster to delay or block legislative action has a long history. The term filibuster — from a Dutch word meaning ‘pirate’ — became popular in the 1850s, when it was applied to efforts to hold the Senate floor in order to prevent a vote on a bill.

“In the early years of Congress, representatives as well as senators could filibuster. As the House of Representatives grew in numbers, however, revisions to the House rules limited debate. In the smaller Senate, unlimited debate continued on the grounds that any senator should have the right to speak as long as necessary on any issue.”

Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC) holds the record for the longest filibuster in his attempt to block the 1957 Civil Rights bill. Though he held the floor for 24 hours and 18 minutes, the bill passed just two hours after he stopped talking.

Filibuster Background

Resources

See Also

• Congress
• Senate
• House of Representatives

Filibuster (in Politics)

Related to political science, the following is a definition of Filibuster in the U.S. practice of politics: An informal term for any attempt to block or delay U.S. Senate action on a bill or other matter by debating it at length, by offering numerous procedural motions, or by any other delaying or obstructive actions.

From the Senate Historical Office: “Using the filibuster to delay or block legislative action has a long history. The term filibuster — from a Dutch word meaning ‘pirate’ — became popular in the 1850s, when it was applied to effor
ts to hold the Senate floor in order to prevent a vote on a bill.

“In the early years of Congress, representatives as well as senators could filibuster. As the House of Representatives grew in numbers, however, revisions to the House rules limited debate. In the smaller Senate, unlimited debate continued on the grounds that any senator should have the right to speak as long as necessary on any issue.”

Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC) holds the record for the longest filibuster in his attempt to block the 1957 Civil Rights bill. Though he held the floor for 24 hours and 18 minutes, the bill passed just two hours after he stopped talking.

Filibuster Background

Resources

See Also

• Legislative Power
• Legislative History
• Legislative Ethics
• Legislative Session
• Legislature
• Legal Aid
• Legislative Commissions
• Legislative Branch
• Legislation
• Executive Branch
• Legislative Function

Popular Searches related with the United States Legislature and Filibuster

• Legislative Power Definition
• State Legislature
• Legislature Calendar
• Congress
• Legislature Members
• Government
• Legislative Session
• Judicial
• Legislators
• Senate
• Legal Forms
• Laws
• Statutes
• Governor
• Judiciary
• Legislature Bills
• Legislation Definition
• Legislation Meaning
• Legislative Information

Filibuster in the International Business Landscape

Definition of Filibuster in the context of U.S. international business and public trade policy: The use of stalling tactics to keep debate alive and block final action on a bill in the U.S. Senate.