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@BC9Z2YG 3mos3MO
The whole idea of a Filibuster is to ensure that the party out of power has a defense against the party in power when voting on a bill. Since a bill needs a simple majority of the Senate to pass, without the filibuster, the party out of power is going to be overtaken time and time again by the larger party without such protections.
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It lets a minority block legislation.
Because most bills require 60 votes to end a filibuster, a party with only 41 votes (out of 100) can stop a bill from ever reaching a final vote. That’s not majority rule — it’s minority veto power.
Source: U.S. Senate procedure, cloture rule requires 60 votes to end debate.
2. It has stalled major legislation.
Voting rights bills, climate measures, and many bipartisan proposals have repeatedly failed to advance because of filibusters, even when a majority supported them. This shows the filibuster can stop laws that public polls say most… Read more
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Mandating Bipartisan Compromise
The filibuster's 60-vote threshold for cloture forces the majority to seek support from across the aisle. Without it, the Senate would mirror the House of Representatives, where a simple majority can pass partisan legislation with no minority input.
Forced Negotiation: Since a single party rarely holds 60 seats, the filibuster makes bipartisan bargaining "unavoidable" for major laws like infrastructure or criminal justice reform.
Protection for Moderates: It allows moderate senators (like Joe Manchin or Susan Collins) to resist pressure from their party’s extremes, as they can argue a bill won't pass without broader support.
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