Changes

Under the rules of the U.S. Senate, one senator can delay a vote by talking for hours and hours, and 41 senators (less than a majority) can defeat a bill.<ref>[[Budget Reconciliation bill]]s cannot be filibustered.  Supreme Court nominees could be filibustered until April 6, 2017, when the [[Republican]]s invoked the [[nuclear option]] to end it in order to confirm [[Neil Gorsuch]].</ref>  Filibusters do not occur in the House of Representatives because its rules do not allow it.  Prior to 1975, merely one-third of the Senate plus one (34 votes) could successful defeat a bill or nomination with a filibuster.  The Senate ended use of the filibuster rule for Supreme Court nominees on April 6, 2017.

Under the rules of the U.S. Senate, one senator can delay a vote by talking for hours and hours, and 41 senators (less than a majority) can defeat a bill.<ref>[[Budget Reconciliation bill]]s cannot be filibustered.  Supreme Court nominees could be filibustered until April 6, 2017, when the [[Republican]]s invoked the [[nuclear option]] to end it in order to confirm [[Neil Gorsuch]].</ref>  Filibusters do not occur in the House of Representatives because its rules do not allow it.  Prior to 1975, merely one-third of the Senate plus one (34 votes) could successful defeat a bill or nomination with a filibuster.  The Senate ended use of the filibuster rule for Supreme Court nominees on April 6, 2017.

In general parliamentary procedure, a filibuster is any tactic to delay and avoid a substantive vote by debating it at length, by offering numerous procedural motions, or by any other delaying or obstructive actions.<ref>[http://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary_term/filibuster.htm] US Senate Reference</ref>

In general parliamentary procedure, a filibuster is any tactic to delay and avoid a substantive vote by debating it at length, by offering numerous procedural motions, or by any other delaying or obstructive actions.<ref>[https://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary_term/filibuster.htm] US Senate Reference</ref>

[[File:Mr-smith.jpg|thumb|290px|Bad news for Senator Smith: evil men have manipulated public opinion, telling him to quit]]  

[[File:Mr-smith.jpg|thumb|290px|Bad news for Senator Smith: evil men have manipulated public opinion, telling him to quit]]  

In 1941, on the eve of World War II, President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], in an effort to integrate minority groups into the war effort, issued an [[executive order]], with no vote in Congress, that created the Fair Employment Practices Committee ([[FEPC]]), and enlarged its responsibilities in 1943. It required companies with federal contracts to not discriminate against employees on the base of race, religion or ethnicity. However, only congressional action could extend its life beyond the war years. Senator Dennis Chavez of New Mexico introduced a bill to establish a permanent FEPC in 1945 which set off a national controversy over how much control the federal government should have in employment practices. Southern Democrats viewed the bill as a step toward social equality of the races. Leading the opposition was Senator Theodore G. Bilbo of Mississippi who vowed he would beat the 'damnable, unAmerican and unconstitutional' FEPC to death.  The bill was withdrawn from consideration after a 24-day filibuster.<ref>Robert J. Bailey, "Theodore G. Bilbo and the Fair Employment Practices Controversy: a Southern Senator's Reactions to a Changing World." ''Journal of Mississippi History'' 1980 42(1): 27-42</ref>  

In 1941, on the eve of World War II, President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], in an effort to integrate minority groups into the war effort, issued an [[executive order]], with no vote in Congress, that created the Fair Employment Practices Committee ([[FEPC]]), and enlarged its responsibilities in 1943. It required companies with federal contracts to not discriminate against employees on the base of race, religion or ethnicity. However, only congressional action could extend its life beyond the war years. Senator Dennis Chavez of New Mexico introduced a bill to establish a permanent FEPC in 1945 which set off a national controversy over how much control the federal government should have in employment practices. Southern Democrats viewed the bill as a step toward social equality of the races. Leading the opposition was Senator Theodore G. Bilbo of Mississippi who vowed he would beat the 'damnable, unAmerican and unconstitutional' FEPC to death.  The bill was withdrawn from consideration after a 24-day filibuster.<ref>Robert J. Bailey, "Theodore G. Bilbo and the Fair Employment Practices Controversy: a Southern Senator's Reactions to a Changing World." ''Journal of Mississippi History'' 1980 42(1): 27-42</ref>  

After 1917 the most famous filibusters were undertaken by Southern Democrats to block civil rights legislation. The record for the longest filibuster is held by Senator [[Strom Thurmond]], who filibustered against the Civil Rights Act of 1957 for 24 hours, 18 minutes.<ref>http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Filibuster_Cloture.htm</ref>

After 1917 the most famous filibusters were undertaken by Southern Democrats to block civil rights legislation. The record for the longest filibuster is held by Senator [[Strom Thurmond]], who filibustered against the Civil Rights Act of 1957 for 24 hours, 18 minutes.<ref>https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Filibuster_Cloture.htm</ref>

==Senate Rules==

==Senate Rules==