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What is filibuster?

Question: What is filibuster?

Answer:

A filibuster is a political procedure used in the United States Senate to block or delay legislative action by extending debate indefinitely. This tactic allows a minority group of senators to prevent a measure from being brought to a vote, effectively obstructing the passage of a bill or other matter under consideration.

The term “filibuster” comes from the Spanish word “filibustero,” which means “pirate” or “freebooter,” reflecting the idea of seizing control of the legislative process.

In practice, a filibuster traditionally involved a senator or group of senators speaking on the Senate floor for hours, sometimes reading from phone books or reciting lengthy passages to consume time.

However, modern filibusters often don’t require continuous speaking. Instead, the mere threat of a filibuster can be enough to stall legislation, as it takes a supermajority of 60 votes to invoke “cloture” and end debate, forcing a vote on the matter at hand.

The filibuster has been a controversial feature of American politics for decades. Supporters argue that it protects minority rights and encourages compromise, while critics contend that it obstructs the democratic process and leads to governmental gridlock.

Over the years, the Senate has modified filibuster rules, such as reducing the number of votes required for cloture and exempting certain types of legislation from the filibuster. Despite ongoing debates about its merits and drawbacks, the filibuster remains a significant tool in the U.S. legislative process.

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