Wednesday, April 1, 2015

The Filibuster is Dying



Wall Street Journal

The filibuster is on the way out of the door, especially after Democrat representative Reid initiated the "nuclear option" which changes senate rules surrounding the filibuster. This legislation changes the previous requirement to overturn a filibuster that was set at 60 votes which is considered a super majority, now with this legislation you simply need a majority to over turn any filibuster. This "nuclear option" is most only used to pass the presidents nominee's for the executive office or federal judicial system.

The filibuster is a very powerful tool for the senate to keep an equal balance between the two party's. The minority party uses the filibuster most often when they feel passionately about a certain bill that they wish to stall the vote of it so that members of the senate may rethink their opinion. In the Wall Street Journal article it discusses the critical importance the filibuster has in sustaining the balance of power between the minority party and the majority party. In the senate its the only really place for the minority party to have a say on the legislative that is going threw the congress. Especially if the minority party in the senate is also the minority party in the house. With this "nuclear option" being initiated by the Democrats it is going to limit the power of any possible minority party in the senate which may be dangerous in the future for the United States government. 

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