FILIBUSTER The unintended consequence of an 1806 Senate rules housekeeping change

“the previous question” motion

Senators were gentlemen. They knew when to stop talking.

1806The Senate eliminates rules that are redundant, including that of making a motion “for the previous question”.

1837An attempt to stop the expunging of Andrew Jackson’s 1834 censure by the Senate. It failed.

1806The Senate eliminates rules that are redundant, including that of making a motion “for the previous question”. 1841Senator William King filibusters against Senator Henry Clay’s bill to charter the Second Bank of the United States. The filibuster went from February 18 to March 11. It succeeded. 1837An attempt to stop the expunging of Andrew Jackson’s 1834 censure by the Senate. It failed.

1806The Senate eliminates rules that are redundant, including that of making a motion “for the previous question”. 1841Senator William King filibusters against Senator Henry Clay’s bill to charter the Second Bank of the United States. The filibuster went from February 18 to March 11. It succeeded. 1837An attempt to stop the expunging of Andrew Jackson’s 1834 censure by the Senate. It failed. 1917Cloture comes into being. Requires 2/3 of Senators voting.

1806The Senate eliminates rules that are redundant, including that of making a motion “for the previous question”. 1841Senator William King filibusters against Senator Henry Clay’s bill to charter the Second Bank of the United States. The filibuster went from February 18 to March 11. It succeeded. 1837An attempt to stop the expunging of Andrew Jackson’s 1834 censure by the Senate. It failed. 1917Cloture comes into being. Requires 2/3 of Senators voting. 1919Cloture first used successfully to approve the Treaty of Versailles.

1806The Senate eliminates rules that are redundant, including that of making a motion “for the previous question”. 1841Senator William King filibusters against Senator Henry Clay’s bill to charter the Second Bank of the United States. The filibuster went from February 18 to March 11. It succeeded. 1837An attempt to stop the expunging of Andrew Jackson’s 1834 censure by the Senate. It failed successful filibusters, mostly by Southern Democratic 1962Senators opposing civil rights legislation. 1917Cloture comes into being. Requires 2/3 of Senators voting. 1919Cloture first used successfully to approve the Treaty of Versailles.

1806The Senate eliminates rules that are redundant, including that of making a motion “for the previous question”. 1841Senator William King filibusters against Senator Henry Clay’s bill to charter the Second Bank of the United States. The filibuster went from February 18 to March 11. It succeeded. 1837An attempt to stop the expunging of Andrew Jackson’s 1834 censure by the Senate. It failed successful filibusters, mostly by Southern Democratic 1962Senators opposing civil rights legislation. 1949Change from 2/3 of Senators voting to 2/3 of all Senators. 1917Cloture comes into being. Requires 2/3 of Senators voting. 1919Cloture first used successfully to approve the Treaty of Versailles.

1806The Senate eliminates rules that are redundant, including that of making a motion “for the previous question”. 1841Senator William King filibusters against Senator Henry Clay’s bill to charter the Second Bank of the United States. The filibuster went from February 18 to March 11. It succeeded. 1837An attempt to stop the expunging of Andrew Jackson’s 1834 censure by the Senate. It failed successful filibusters, mostly by Southern Democratic 1962Senators opposing civil rights legislation. 1949Change from 2/3 of Senators voting to 2/3 of all Senators. 1917Cloture comes into being. Requires 2/3 of Senators voting. 1919Cloture first used successfully to approve the Treaty of Versailles. 1975Change from 2/3 of all Senators to 3/5 of all Senators.

2/3 of the Senators present and voting

Simple majority on the first day of a new Congress (maybe)

2/3 of the Senators present and voting Simple majority on the first day of a new Congress (maybe) The “nuclear” or “constitutional” option

2/3 of the Senators present and voting Simple majority on the first day of a new Congress (maybe) The “nuclear” or “constitutional” option By lawsuit through the Supreme Court

RankStateSenatorTimePurposeOutcome 1SCStrom Thurmond24:18Stop the Civil Rights Act of NYAlfonse D’Amato23:30Stop removal of military funding in his state 3ORWayne Morse22:26Stall debate on Tidelands Oil Bill 4WIRobert La Follete18:23Stop US Treasury from lending to banks 5WIWilliam Proxmire16:12Stop increase in the public debt ceiling

Mississippi Senator Theodore Bilbo filibustered a 1938 anti-lynching bill in an effort to protect "Saxon civilization."

BUST THE FILIBUSTER