Filibustering – when a politician deliberately delays or prevents a proposal from becoming law by continuing to speak until a debate has to be closed.
In the UK Parliament, Philip Davies the Tory MP for Shipley in Yorkshire is known as the master of filibuster. He has managed to stop a number of bills proceeding simply by talking them out.
A recent filibuster saw Sen. Jeff Merkley speaking for 15 hours as a protest against President Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Neil Gorsuch. However, it seems likely the Republicans will request a procedural vote today (Thursday) to close the debate. It is also likely Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will attempt to change the rules to allow the nominee to be subject to a majority vote – the ‘nuclear option’.
filibuster
a situation in which a politician deliberately delays or prevents a proposal from becoming law by continuing to speak until the end of a debate
