Changes

''See also [[Senate rules change]] and [[nuclear option]]''.

''See also [[Senate rules change]] and [[nuclear option]]''.

A '''filibuster''' is the use of speaking privileges to block a vote on a bill or nominee, typically in the U.S. Senate. The House of Representatives does not allow filibusters or anything equivalent.

A '''filibuster''' is the use of speaking privileges to block a vote, typically in the U.S. Senate. The House of Representatives does not allow filibusters or anything equivalent. Several state legislature, including the Texas House, have a procedure equivalent to a filibuster.<ref>http://www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/texas-house-of-representatives/texplainer-what-is-chubbing/</ref>

 

The term applies most commonly to the [[United States Senate]], but filibusters exist in many state senates too. There are variations on a filibuster allowed in some state houses or assemblies, such in the Texas House, where it is called "chubbing".<ref>http://www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/texas-house-of-representatives/texplainer-what-is-chubbing/</ref>

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>[https://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|Bad news for Senator Smith: evil men have manipulated public opinion, telling him to quit]]  

==Famous filibusters==

==Famous filibusters==