filibuster

Politics & Government

Senate Democrats plan a vote to change the filibuster. So what is it?

10:12am January 17, 2022

by Ron Elving

The filibuster was once a rarely used tool for holding up Senate business. Now, it's a regular (still powerful) feature; some Democrats want it changed. Here are answers to your filibuster questions.

Empty hallways outside the U.S. Senate chamber, where the body will consider major pieces of legislation that could allocate trillions of dollars for infrastructure and other priorities.

Politics & Government

As Biden Aims To Pass 2 Big Bills, Things Are About To Get Really Complicated

3:16pm August 05, 2021

by Ron Elving

Seemingly arcane exercises in the days and weeks ahead will in fact represent – and may even resolve — real conflicts over national issues of enormous importance.

Politics & Government

Rev. William Barber, Coalition Call For End To Filibuster

5:10pm April 15, 2021

by Paul Garber

A national coalition of Christian leaders led by North Carolina's Dr. Rev. William Barber II is calling on Washington to end the filibuster.

President Biden and Vice President Harris meet Monday evening in the Oval Office with 10 Republican senators, including Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, to discuss COVID-19 relief proposals.

Politics & Government

What Is 'Reconciliation'? Democrats Face Hurdles To Use It For COVID Relief

10:32am February 02, 2021

by Kelsey Snell

The budget process allows the party in control in Congress to pass most big-dollar legislation without having to worry about a filibuster. But the process can be risky.

Former President Barack Obama tells mourners Thursday at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta that they can honor the late Rep. John Lewis by helping to revitalize voting rights.

Obama Calls For Abolishing Filibuster If It Stands In Way Of Stronger Voting Rights

6:24pm July 30, 2020

by Bill Chappell

"Naming it the John Lewis Voting Rights Act — that is a fine tribute," former President Barack Obama said. "But John wouldn't want us to stop there."

President Trump leaves the White House for a campaign trip to Battle Creek, Mich., on Wednesday. This week, he became just the third president in American history to be impeached.

Politics & Government

Tracing The Roots Of A Partisan Impeachment

8:55am December 19, 2019

by Domenico Montanaro

The inception of partisanship goes back decades — and, guess what, Republicans and Democrats can't agree on who started it.

In Houston on Thursday, Democratic presidential hopefuls Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren participate in the third Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season.

Politics & Government

What Is The Filibuster — And Why Do Some Democrats Want To End It?

1:23am September 13, 2019

The majority does not rule in the Senate, and that has some Democrats — including presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren — pushing to change how things work. Others warn that could backfire.

Senate Gun Control Speeches Recall An Old-School Filibuster

7:43pm June 15, 2016

by Ron Elving

The word came from the Spanish filibustero in the 1800s and had a root in the Dutch word vribuiter or "freebooter." The original reference was to a mercenary who traveled around fomenting rebellion.

A woman looks on at the U.S. Capitol in 2013 after the most recent government shutdown. Congress has made no progress toward avoiding a government shutdown when it will run out of funding Sept. 30.

Iran Deal Looks Like A Done Deal, So Here Are The Next Crises For Congress

1:10pm September 03, 2015

by Ron Elving

President Obama may have secured enough votes to keep his Iran deal intact, but potential problems loom for Congress on the debt ceiling, highway funding and a possible government shutdown.