Glossary
Filibuster
The use of extended debate or the threat of it to delay or block Senate action, effectively requiring 60 votes for most bills.
Also called: talking filibuster, Senate filibuster, obstruction
A filibuster is a tactic in the U.S. Senate for delaying or defeating a measure by prolonging debate. The Senate has no general rule limiting how long members can speak, so unless debate is ended by cloture, a single determined senator or group can hold the floor.
The classic image is a lone senator speaking for hours, as Jimmy Stewart's character does in a famous film. Today the filibuster is mostly a threat rather than a marathon speech: a senator signals objection, the leader files for cloture, and the bill needs 60 votes to advance. Whether a filibuster is actually carried out is rarely tested, since leaders count votes in advance. Certain measures, such as budget reconciliation bills, are exempt, and the Senate has removed the filibuster for nominations through the nuclear option.
Supporters argue the filibuster protects the minority, encourages compromise and slows hasty lawmaking. Critics say it creates gridlock, that it is not in the Constitution and that it was used to block civil rights legislation. Proposals to abolish, weaken or restore a "talking" requirement surface whenever one party controls the White House and a narrow Senate majority, and both parties have switched positions with their fortunes.
Last reviewed November 8, 2026