EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF THE FILIBUSTER ON SENATE PRODUCTIVITY

In 1787, the United States Constitution was constructed to establish the foundation of the US government, with the responsibilities and authorities of the federal government being separated into three branches. The House of Representatives and the Senate shared the lawmaking powers in the legislative branch. The Senate comprises two representatives from each state in the nation that is primarily responsible for voting on bills and can pass them if they reach a simple majority. The voting period allows for debate on the chamber floor amongst opposing parties. It introduces the use of the filibuster, which is a tactic of using an uninterrupted debate to delay or block the passage of a bill into law. This forum of discussion intends to allow for a minority party to retain a certain degree of authority in the legislative decisions. A three-fifths majority vote from the Senate or cloture is currently required to end a filibuster. In recent years, the use of the filibuster has increased over time, and concerns materialized regarding how it mainly targets and blocks large-scale reform and severely hinders the overall efficiency of the Senate.