The weird rule that broke American politics

The filibuster started as an accident. Today it lets the losers rule Congress.

The US Senate is supposed to pass laws. But today, it’s broken. And it’s broken because of something called the filibuster, which has been part of Senate tradition for over 200 years. But the filibuster came into being by accident. And today, some politicians are suggesting we should get rid of it entirely.

Further reading:

"Note: The headline for this video has been updated since publishing.
Previous headline: How the filibuster broke the US senate

[Vox]

Hope everyone enjoys the video! Do filibusters undermine or support democracy? Let us know what you think in the comments!

[one_of_the_masses]

Vox : These 100 people.They are the US Senate, they pass laws.

US Senate: We don’t do that here.

[johndanielson]

“They can gain more politically by fighting than by cooperating.”

Truer words have never been uttered.

[TheGreatCooLite]

Majority party: breathes
Minority party: *I'm going to have to filibuster that*

[Glace]

Majority party: "OK so it's decided: We wi-"
Minority part: "According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way
that a bee should be able to fly."

[idkwhatnametochoose]

Majority Party: Lets End The Filibus-

Minority Party: What Did You Say? FILIBUSTERED

[balthasarrasahtlab]

Filibuster, gerrymandering, electoral college... american politics is everything but easy.

[skyswinger]

1:07
Me trying to win an argument:

[rheaswim]

I love how you guys simulate speech among senators, its funny and it somehow is perfect

[MidnightBloomDev]

*I am the senate!*

Jedi: let me filibuster that

[sourkoyote]

Ahh yes, America. Where if I don’t agree with you and get my way, I’m gonna pout and waste your time so we both don’t get what we want.

[stevenfoster]

"This is the way we've always done it." - The most dangerous sentence in the English language.

[TypicallyThomas]

"It all kinda happened by accident"

Like everything else in america

[stephaniez]

Damn it Aaron Burr. Back at it again ruining lives...

[guluturk]

“Burr wanted more debate in the Senate.”

So much for talk less, smile more.

[AlanGarcia-nqkb]

This is why George Washington warned us about political parties

[gooeyscoo]

I’d like to vote on a bill.

Ted Cruz: I do not like them Sam-I-Am. I do not like green eggs and ham.

[worrywart]

Someone needs to grab that Phil Buster and sort him out.

[Datmexican]

Political party: *wins majority in senate
Other party: I’m about to end this man’s whole career

[Unicalnetwork]

Then what does it means to be a democracy?
— I dunno, i'm living in a two-party system country