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Ezra
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RossA Senator would choose filibustering to block a bill if he or she was certain that it would pass if it ever went to a full vote. If the filibuster is successful, the session of Congress ends and the bill is dead at least until the next session of Congress when it must be reintroduced. If the majority party of the Senate swings from one party to the other, then it is likely that even when reintroduced in the new session, the bill will now be outvoted. If the majority party does not swing to the other side, then the filibuster just serves as a delaying tactic.
A Senator might choose a filibuster for a couple reasons. One is if he/she knows the bill will be passed if it comes up for a vote, that Senator can prevent it from coming up for that vote by talking about it non-stop. The other reason would be if the Senator knew it was the right thing to do to pass the bill, but for political or other reasons did not want it to pass, he/she could prevent it from coming up for a vote by talking non-stop. Thus the Senator either prevents a bill he/she does not like from passing or avoids having to vote in favor of an unpopular bill or against a popular bill.
Senators delay voting for a bill?
Filibuster
How many senators do you need to break up a congressional filibuster?
It would be Three-fifths of the Senate, or 60 members who vote against it.
How can a member of the senate delay the vote on a bill?
Senators are allowed to speak for or against a bill and a vote can not be taken until the everyone has had a reasonable opportunity to speak. However, there is a tactic known as the filibuster in which a senator or a group of Senators speak for no purpose except to delay a vote on the bill. The Senate can vote to end debate but this action currently required a 60% majority , so unless 60% of the senators want to end debate and get a vote, the debate can go on until the bill is withdrawn without a vote and the bill dies .
What is a filibuster and how can it be stopped?
It's a mechanizism that senators use to delay the vote on a piece of legislation to which they object. It can be stopped through a 3/5ths vote of the senate
How is a filibuster broken in the Senate?
A filibuster is broken when 60 senators vote to invoke cloture. This is why Democrats were so interested in seating 60 senators in this election--it is very difficult to persuade a senator of the opposing party to vote for cloture. A 60-seat majority is called a "filibuster-proof" majority because they can invoke cloture without asking any minority members for their votes.
