The Filibuster
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The filibuster is a very important and unique issue in American government. The filibuster is used by the Senate to slow up or derail bills. It is also used to block judicial nominees, threatened most recently to be used against Judge Alito. It is a very strong tool especially to the minority party. The minority can use it to make a point or to try and get their way.
Filibusters can be a very strong tool for the minority in the Senate. A Senator or his or her minority party can block the full Senate consideration of a bill or a nomination by unlimited debate of the proposal. This is especially important to the Senate if there is only 50-59 Senators that are in favor of passing a bill. This is because of the rule of cloture. A filibuster can be ended in the Senate by a cloture vote which is 60 of the 100 Senators voting to end the filibuster and take the bill or nomination to a final vote. The use of the filibuster by the minority party in the Senate ensures the minority party representation in the Senate.