History of the Filibuster Explained

What is a filibuster and how do politicians use it to push their agendas? Here's an explainer of the age-old power play in politics.

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[theseventhgeneration]

Cancel the filibuster. We don't have time for that.

[Castle_Bravo.]

GOP: i am going to take as long as I want because I can
Bernie: im here today to take as long as i can to explain to American people...

[YouProblyAHater]

A "filibuster" sounds like a wrestling move you practice on your younger sibling...

[PierTampa]

At the very least, some senators would read the Constitution to filibuster....Ted Cruz reads Dr.Seuss...just saying.

[mysliceoflife]

I'm seriously saddened that this is how our democracy plays out. These people know nothing of modern day America, but they make the choices for everyone. And these choices are bullied around by filibusters. Watching the Senate speak on almost any topic just makes me feel sick that they make the decisions for the rest of us.

[VSchwarcz]

That filibuster thing is outrageous! Your taxes being wasted

[CM]

Shocker that Rand Paul and Ted Cruz are on this list 🙄

[Icewind]

It sounds like the people need to kicks these fools out and upgrade the idiocy going on at our expense.

[zacharyminton]

Seems childish and completely ineffective and pointless - if a filibuster has never stopped legislation from being passed, then what's the purpose?

[lillic]

Why not just walk out and let them filibuster all night long, and then come back and vote in the morning? Viewed from Europe, US politics is weird!!!

[chrisandlizsizemore]

Despite the nefarious reasons and its use as strategic play, it's still an impressive feat - especially considering their 'age' and the ailments that come with it.

[CameronBrtnik]

What a coincidence..the filibuster was "a mistake" and so was Ted Cruz!

[IridescenceStudios]

It still seems ridiculous to me that this is allowed. It's quite literally wasting time avoiding the issue.

[nostalgicwarframeplayer]

I could have sworn I was watching The Onion

[victoriaborzillo]

This is insanity. This is our represenators their clowns, so if this is filibustering there has to be time limit on speakers.

[jessetorres]

Here's my question: If pretty much everything decided/voted on in The House can get passed by just a 1 vote majority, then why is that not the case for The Senate/why do they need the filibuster?

[kaitlnwhite]

Surprised there’s no Mr. Smith Goes to Washington references here.

[jimmclean]

They could stop Rand Paul from Filibustering by making it a requirement that he actually made sense

[kdawson]

"Now the room must listen to me
Filibuster vigilantly
My name is blue Canary
One note spelled l-i-t-e"
Thanks to They Might Be Giants, that word has been in my vocabulary since 1990.

[spookyboi]

Only thing people ahould know about the filibuster is that it should be thrown in the garbage along with all of the other failed political tools.