filibuster
/ˈfɪl.əˌbʌs.tər/
Definition
A political tactic used in the U.S. Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill by prolonging debate, requiring a supermajority of 60 votes to end the discussion and move to a final decision.
Etymology
The word originates from the Dutch 'vrijbuiter' (freebooter or pirate), which entered English via Spanish as 'filibustero'. It shifted from describing 19th-century military adventurers who staged unauthorized expeditions into foreign countries to its modern parliamentary sense of 'hijacking' or obstructing legislative progress.
In the news
In this article, the filibuster is described as the primary legislative hurdle preventing Senate Republicans from passing the SAVE America Act. It highlights why GOP leaders are considering budget reconciliation—a process that bypasses the 60-vote requirement—to circumvent this obstacle.
Speaker Johnson says House will pass Trump’s voter ID bill through arduous process after GOP revolt
Read the full article ↗CNN