Filibustering

Definition

Filibustering is a political procedure where a senator or representative delays or obstructs a bill or other measure by extending debate, introducing dilatory motions, and using other delaying tactics. It is a means of preventing a vote from occurring on a measure.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Filibustering was used extensively by Southern senators to delay or block legislation that threatened the institution of slavery during the antebellum period.
2. The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) was a key event that led to increased filibustering in Congress, as the acquisition of new territory raised questions about the expansion of slavery.
3. Filibusters often involved senators speaking for hours on end, reading from books, newspapers, or even the dictionary, in order to delay or prevent a vote.
4. The Compromise of 1850 was a major legislative package that included measures to limit the ability of senators to filibuster, though the practice continued to be used.
5. Filibustering played a significant role in the political debates and conflicts leading up to the American Civil War, as both sides sought to use the tactic to advance their interests.

Review Questions

• Explain how filibustering was used by Southern senators to influence the debate over the expansion of slavery during the Mexican-American War.
  • During the Mexican-American War, the acquisition of new territory raised questions about the expansion of slavery. Southern senators used the tactic of filibustering extensively to delay or block legislation that threatened the institution of slavery. By prolonging debate and introducing dilatory motions, they were able to prevent votes on measures that could have limited the spread of slavery into the newly acquired lands. Filibustering allowed Southern lawmakers to exert significant influence over the political process and shape the outcome of the debates surrounding the expansion of slavery.
• Describe the role of the Compromise of 1850 in addressing the issue of filibustering in Congress.
  • The Compromise of 1850 was a major legislative package that sought to address the growing tensions over the expansion of slavery, including measures to limit the ability of senators to filibuster. While the Compromise did not eliminate filibustering entirely, it included provisions that made it more difficult for senators to use delaying tactics to obstruct legislation. This was an attempt to reduce the influence of filibusters in the political process and facilitate the passage of important bills. However, the practice of filibustering continued to be used in the years leading up to the Civil War, as both sides sought to leverage the tactic to advance their respective interests.
• Analyze the long-term impact of filibustering on the political landscape and the events leading up to the American Civil War.
  • Filibustering played a significant role in shaping the political landscape in the years leading up to the American Civil War. The extensive use of filibusters by Southern senators to delay or block legislation that threatened the expansion of slavery exacerbated the growing tensions between the North and South. This tactic allowed the pro-slavery faction to maintain a disproportionate influence in Congress, even as the country expanded westward and the balance of power shifted. The inability to resolve these conflicts through the legislative process contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War, as both sides became increasingly entrenched in their positions and unwilling to compromise. The legacy of filibustering continues to be felt in the modern political system, as the tactic remains a powerful tool for obstructing legislation and shaping the policy agenda.

Related terms

Cloture: A procedure in the United States Senate to end a filibuster and force a vote on a bill or other measure.

Manifest Destiny: The 19th-century American belief that the country was destined to expand across the North American continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

Compromise of 1850: A series of laws passed by the U.S. Congress in 1850 that dealt with the issue of the expansion of slavery as the country expanded westward.