1. filibuster

2. Biggest difference between the House and the Senate?
Size:
Senate: 100 members
House: 435 members
Biggest difference between the House and the Senate?

3. Unlimited debate, but only for Senators
Senators may speak (debate) as long as they want about a bill
Representatives are given time limits
Unlimited debate, but only for Senators

4. Filibuster: definition
Talking a bill to death
Senator takes the floor and won't give it up;
Finally, a majority of the Senate agrees to abandon the bill
Filibuster: definition

5. 4 Rules 1. Can't stop talking or sit down
2. Can't leave the senate chambers
3. 1st 3 hours: must talk about the bill
4. After that, you can talk about anything: childhood stories, sports scores, reading the Constitution, reading from the dictionary
4 Rules

6. Record for a filibuster
1957--Strom Thurman from North Carolina spoke for 24 hours 18 minutes
He was blocking civil rights legislation
Record for a filibuster
He had a bucket in the senator’s cloakroom where he could take “nature breaks” while keeping one foot on the Senate floor.

7. Dream Act—would have allowed young people brought to the U. S
Dream Act—would have allowed young people brought to the U.S. illegally as children to become citizens.
Filibustered to death on Dec 18,
Filibuster Example

8. Is there a way to end a filibuster?
YES!
Invoking Cloture: 60 or more senators vote to stop a filibuster.
Very difficult to get.
Is there a way to end a filibuster?

9. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Senator Jefferson Smith (good guy)
Senator Joseph Payne (used to be good, but has been corrupted)
Mr. James Taylor (bad—the political boss of a political machine that owns Montana)
Sen. Smith wants the land on Willet Creek to be used for a Boy Ranger Camp. James Taylor, who owns the land, wants the gov’t to buy it so that he can make money off of the sale. Sen. Payne has created a bill to do just that, but Sen. Smith stands in the way.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

10. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
ch?v=HX8aFpnWxPA
12:08 minutes long
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington