US Senate Filibuster

The cluster focuses on the filibuster rule in the US Senate, which requires 60 votes to advance most legislation, leading to discussions about legislative gridlock, exceptions like budget reconciliation, and blocking by senators like Manchin, Sinema, and McConnell.

➡️ Stable 0.8x Politics & Society
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19
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#8850
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Keywords

US SMITH McConnell RUBIO COLLINS WARNER CORTEZ BI McCarthy ERNST senate votes vote senators democrats mr legislation 60 passed majority

Sample Comments

u801e Mar 2, 2023 View on HN

Probably because the majority in the legislative is not filibuster proof, and there are always a few representatives or senators who disagree with the proposal and prevent it from going to a floor vote. Recent examples of such individuals are Manchin and Sinema. Lieberman was another one who managed to get the public option removed from the ACA before it was passed.

cardamomo Mar 9, 2025 View on HN

There was some debate whether or not to remove the rule requiring a 60% vote to end filibusters in the Senate. Because this rule still stands, most laws cannot pass without 60 Senators' votes. Budget reconciliation bills, however, can be advanced with only a simple majority of the Senate. Though this is not a recent rules change, much recent legislation has gone through the reconciliation process to avoid the supermajority requirement.

eru May 29, 2025 View on HN

Wouldn't they still have to deal with filibusters?

throwaway2048 Feb 6, 2020 View on HN

Not congress in plural, the republican held senate, and specifically Mitch McConnell blocking almost every bill.

CabSauce Nov 4, 2021 View on HN

Unfortunately, anything passed in the senate requires 60 votes or need to be passed during reconcilliation (one bill per year). This is due to the use of the fillibuster to stop anything else from being considered.

ssklash Jun 3, 2020 View on HN

Absolutely. Want to see a great breakdown? https://np.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/2kaubu/just_a_remi...

ivewonyoung Feb 14, 2025 View on HN

Senate needs 60 votes to avoid a filibuster. Democrats have enough votes to stop any bill from passing except budget reconciliation.

InclinedPlane Nov 21, 2011 View on HN

A filibuster can be used to block legislation that only has a bare majority of support in the Senate. If legislation has the support of more than 60 senators then no filibuster can stop it. It can be a good thing in that it raises the bar for passing legislation and protects minority but still popular opinions.

jagraff Jun 8, 2023 View on HN

Due to the filibuster, most bills require 60 votes (60%) to pass the senate. It hasn’t lead to more cooperation - it’s lead to a paralyzed government that can’t pass good laws.

zappb May 23, 2025 View on HN

They don’t have 60 senators which is required to pass anything besides the budget these days thanks to the filibuster.