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.</ref> or nominee by simply voting against [[cloture]] to end debate. 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. | 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.</ref> or nominee by simply voting against [[cloture]] to end debate. 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. |