|
Updated: 19 September 2007
Rule 22
The filibuster is related to "cloture," a rule adopted almost 100 years ago requiring a two-thirds vote to close debate on a bill and bring it to a vote.
In 1975, the Senate reduced the number of votes needed to invoke cloture to three-fifths (60) of Senate membership. At the same time, they made the filibuster "invisible" by requiring only that 41 Senators state that they intend to filibuster; critics say this makes the modern filibuster "painless."
Also, see
Overview: US Senate, Filibuster,
Rules of the Senate: Filibuster & Cloture,
Filibuster Busted: 7 GOP Senators Call For Debate
| Senate Action on Cloture Motions |
| Congress |
Years |
Motions Filed |
Votes on Cloture |
Cloture Invoked |
Percent Invoked |
| 110 |
2007-2008 |
56 |
45 |
22 |
39.28 |
| 109 |
2005-2006 |
68 |
54 |
34 |
62.96 |
| 108 |
2003-2004 |
62 |
49 |
12 |
24.49 |
| 107 |
2001-2002 |
72 |
61 |
34 |
47.22 |
| 106 |
1999-2000 |
71 |
58 |
28 |
39.44 |
| 105 |
1997-1998 |
69 |
53 |
18 |
26.09 |
| 104 |
1995-1996 |
82 |
50 |
9 |
10.98 |
| 103 |
1993-1994 |
80 |
46 |
14 |
17.50 |
| 102 |
1991-1992 |
59 |
47 |
22 |
37.29 |
| 101 |
1989-1990 |
37 |
24 |
11 |
29.73 |
| 100 |
1987-1988 |
53 |
43 |
12 |
22.64 |
| 99 |
1985-1986 |
40 |
23 |
10 |
25.00 |
| 98 |
1983-1984 |
41 |
19 |
11 |
26.83 |
| 97 |
1981-1982 |
31 |
30 |
10 |
32.26 |
| 96 |
1979-1980 |
30 |
20 |
11 |
36.67 |
| 95 |
1977-1978 |
23 |
13 |
3 |
13.04 |
| 94 |
1975-1976 |
39 |
27 |
17 |
43.59 |
| 93 |
1973-1974 |
44 |
31 |
9 |
20.45 |
Source:
US Senate
|
