filibuster

Filibuster is a procedural tactic in the United States Senate and some other legislatures by which a minority can delay or block legislative action by extending debate on the matter. In practice, a senator or group can prolong discussion to prevent a vote on a bill, nomination, or other measure. The tactic relies on the Senate's rules governing debate and the ability to hold the floor.

The term originated in the United States in the 19th century and is believed to derive from the Dutch "vrijbuiter" meaning freebooter; the word filibuster was originally used in the context of piracy but came to describe obstruction in legislative bodies.

In the United States Senate, most business can be stalled unless a supermajority agrees to end debate through cloture. Cloture is a motion to end debate; it requires 60 votes to pass in the modern Senate. The threshold has changed over time: 2/3 (67 votes) in 1917; 3/5 (60 votes) after 1975. A successful cloture motion allows a limited period of additional debate followed by a vote on the matter.

Reforms and exceptions have limited or altered the use of the filibuster. Budget-related measures can be passed by simple majority under reconciliation rules, subject to procedural limits. In 2013, the Senate invoked the nuclear option to eliminate the 60-vote threshold for most presidential nominations, and in 2017 extended a similar change to Supreme Court nominees.

Public debate on the filibuster centers on balancing minority rights and legislative efficiency, with supporters citing protection of minority interests and opponents arguing that it hampers democratic processes. Reform proposals range from preserving the filibuster with stricter rules to eliminating it for all or most business.