filibuster
a way for lawmakers to delay or stop a vote, often by speaking for a long time
A political tactic in which lawmakers delay or try to block a vote, bill, or nomination, especially by prolonging debate or using procedural rules.
the U.S. Senate rule or practice that often requires 60 votes to move major legislation forward
In U.S. politics, the Senate practice or set of rules that lets a minority delay or block many actions unless enough senators vote to end debate, now usually 60 votes for legislation.
to delay or block a law or vote by using a filibuster
To use a filibuster to delay or prevent a legislative vote or approval.
to keep talking so that something is delayed or so you do not have to answer
To talk at unnecessary length, or use talk to delay something or avoid answering directly.
a very long speech or answer that wastes time or avoids the point
A long, often rambling speech or explanation that delays progress or avoids the main point.
- Base: filibuster
- Plural: filibuster, filibusters
- Base: filibuster
- 3rd Person Singular: filibusters
- Present Participle: filibustering
- Past: filibustered
break a filibuster
1End a delaying tactic
to stop a filibuster so a vote can happen
- Leaders needed three more votes to break the filibuster.
- The compromise helped break a filibuster on the spending bill.
- Opponents said they would keep debating unless the majority could break the filibuster.
- They could not break the filibuster.
- The vote broke the filibuster.
filibuster-proof majority
1Votes enough to overcome
enough votes to stop opponents from using a filibuster
- The party won a filibuster-proof majority in the state senate.
- Without a filibuster-proof majority, the bill needed support from both parties.
- The coalition was two seats short of a filibuster-proof majority.
- They did not have a filibuster-proof majority.
- A filibuster-proof majority can pass the bill more easily.
silent filibuster
1Filibuster without speeches
a filibuster that does not require a senator to keep speaking
- Critics argue that the silent filibuster makes it too easy to block legislation.
- The reform would replace the silent filibuster with a talking filibuster.
- Under a silent filibuster, the bill can stall even if no senator is speaking on the floor.
- A silent filibuster can block a bill.
- No long speech is needed for a silent filibuster.
talking filibuster
1Continuous-speech filibuster
a filibuster where a lawmaker has to keep speaking
- Some senators proposed bringing back the talking filibuster.
- The lawmaker held a talking filibuster that lasted through the night.
- A talking filibuster is the version many people know from movies.
- He held a talking filibuster.
- A talking filibuster can last for hours.