Filibuster How does the filibuster impact the legislative

Filibuster How does the filibuster impact the legislative process in the Senate?

Ted Cruz famously filibustered on the Senate floor! Watch the clip and jot down two reasons why he would do this!

What’s a filibuster? Filibuster: the use of extreme dilatory tactics in an attempt to delay or prevent action especially in a legislative assembly. A filibuster is an attempt to block or delay Senate action on a bill or other matter. Cots filled the Old Supreme Court Chamber during the civil rights debates in 1960 s.

What’s Rule 22? Rule 22, Cloture: The cloture rule–Rule 22–is the only formal procedure that Senate rules provide for breaking a filibuster. - 16 Senators sign a cloture motion The Senators must vote on the cloture motion ⅗ of all Senators must vote to invoke cloture and end the filibuster

As Washington DC has become more politically polarized and gridlocked, the number of filibusters and votes on cloture have increased for politicians to block legislation from the opposition party.

How else is the filibuster used? Filibusters can be used to halt presidential nominations to fill cabinet and federal court positions. President Trump’s most recent cabinet appointments.

How have the rules changed? In 2013, Senate Majority leader, Harry Reid(D), changed Senate rules to lower the number of votes from 60 to 51 to stop Republicans from filibustering against Obama’s nominations (an exception was made for Supreme Court nominations).

And the Supreme Court? Recently, Mitch Mc. Connell (R), Senate Majority leader, changed the rules to stop Democrats from filibustering the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court to a simple majority of 51 votes.

Results? All of these changes made it easier for Trump’s controversial nominations to be approved by the members of the Senate.