Filibuster

Congress is broken. When Americans go to the polls, they vote for legislators who will get something done. Unfortunately, the Senate has made this virtually impossible, largely due to the rampant abuse of the filibuster.

Changing Senate rules could make a huge difference. The Brennan Center works with a broad range of national groups to push for filibuster reform. Through research, policy, and communications expertise, we conduct public education campaigns to build support for fixing the filibuster.

To end government dysfunction and gridlock, the Senate must change the rules that lead to obstruction.

Recent Research

On Filibuster, It’s Past Time to End ‘False Equivalence’
Andrew Cohen

The Senate's dubious vote on gun background checks is a failure from our elected officials, but also from the media, which help Senate obstructionists by trying to appear "objective."

April 23, 2013
Government & Court Reform
Filibuster
The Filibuster Myth
Charles Fried
Frederick A. O. (“Fritz”) Schwarz, Jr.

When Congress resumes later this month, the Senate may finally change its rules concerning the filibuster — the procedure whereby the minority can block legislation from a final vote unless the majority can muster a supermajority of 60 votes.

January 15, 2013
Government & Court Reform
Filibuster

Recent Blog Posts

Fears, Filibusters, and Financing

Jonathan Backer

On last week's background check vote, special interests were able to commandeer some of our sovereignty by exploiting arcane Senate rules and porous campaign finance laws, breaching the social contract at the heart of our democracy.

April 23, 2013

Money in Politics

Government & Court Reform

Filibuster

Rand Paul's Talking Filibuster Highlights Silent Filibuster Abuse

Matthew Menendez

While Sen. Rand Paul’s talking filibuster of John Brennan as CIA Director was an improvement to ongoing silent obstructionism in the Senate, he and his colleagues should also drop their ongoing silent filibuster of judicial nominees.

March 8, 2013

Government & Court Reform

Fair Courts

Filibuster