A filibuster is an infrequently used legal tactic that is designed to prevent a legislative body from voting on a bill, law or proposal. On December 10, 2010, Senator Bernie Sanders began a filibuster around 10 in the morning. Viewers could watch Sanders speak on news channels and C-Span, but those without much involvement in politics might not know what a filibuster is.
What is a Filibuster?
Filibusters allow an individual member of the parliamentary or legislative body to hold up the voting process by speaking. American politicians rarely use the filibuster tactic, although there are occasions when a member of Congress will use it to hold up a vote and attempt to change people’s minds. The various ways in which members of Congress can use a filibuster vary between the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Filibusters in the House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is the body of Congress that is based on the population of each state. As of November 2010, the House of Representatives had 435 members, as well as six non-voting members. The House of Representatives is heavily involved in passing laws as part of the legislative branch of the United States government.
A filibuster in the House of Representatives used to be unlimited. However, a permanent rule was imposed in 1842 that limits the amount of time a Representative can filibuster. This factor reduces the number of filibusters that occur in the House of Representatives. The time limit is intended to reduce delays in passing legislation and voting.
Filibusters in the Senate
The United States Senate is composed of two Senators from each state, and it is the upper house of Congress. The Senate is involved with lawmaking, as well as making treaties, confirming Cabinet positions and federal judges, and conducting impeachment trials. Elected Senators serve six-year terms on a staggered basis. The Vice President of the United States acts as the President of the Senate.
Within the Senate, a Senator can filibuster for as long as they choose to speak, unless three fifths of the Senate votes to close the debate in a process known as cloture. One of the interesting characteristics of a Senate filibuster is that the Senator can speak on any topic, whether it is related to the legislature or proposal being delayed or not. Since filibusters are designed to delay or prevent voting, the freedom to talk on any subject makes the potential for a Senate filibuster seemingly endless.
Filibustering is a valuable delaying and debate tactic for both Senators and Representatives, who can use it not only to delay progress on legislation or bills they oppose, but also to inform listeners about the issues at hand. Television and internet coverage allow many more people than just Congress to listen to a filibustering politician.
Bailey Shoemaker Richards - Bailey is a writer from Ohio. She is pursuing a creative writing degree at Ohio University, where she is currently a senior. Bailey ...
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