,,iv  #aad? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,h4 ,,res4 #ede  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(     
,,repres5tatives  ,decemb] #b1 #bjae    
,mr4 ,franks ( ,arizona 7= himself1 ,mr4
 ,ad]holt1 ,mr4 ,culb]son1 ,mr4 ,wilson 
( ,s\? ,c>ol9a1 ,mr4 ,gibbs1 ,mr4       
,walb]g1 ,mr4 ,posey1 ,mr4 ,mulvaney1   
,mr4 ,gos>1 ,mr4 ,salmon1 ,mr4 ,pitts1  
,mrs4 ,blackburn1 ,mr4 ,cram]1 & ,mr4   
,smi? ( ,texas7 submitt$ ! foll[+       
resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee
 on ,rules  ,,resolution  ,call+ = an   
end to ! abuse ( ! ,/&+ ,rules ( !      
,s5ate & to improve ! debate &          
consid]ation ( legislative matt]s4      
,:]eas ! failure to pass critical1      
ov]:elm+ly popul> legislation 9 ! ,unit$
 ,/ates ,s5ate has result$ f ! curr5t   
,s5ate cloture rule & ! practices ( !   
,s5ate relat$ to debate2 ,:]eas         
sup]majority provisions ( ! ,s5ate      
cloture rule 7p>agraphs #b & #c ( rule  
,,xxii71 commonly kn[n z ! ,s5ate       
filibu/] rule1 are n contemplat$ by !   
,unit$ ,/ates ,con/itution2 ,:]eas !    

,s5ate cloture rule & ! practices ( !   
,s5ate relat$ to />t+ & end+ debate h   
evolv$ ov] "t1 & result$ 9 ! ,s5ate     
r\t9ely be+ unable to rea* a fair1 up or
 d[n vote on important matt]s1 ev5 :5 a 
majority ( ! body wi%es to d s2 ,:]eas 9
 ! pres5t day1 ! ,s5ate has become      
debilitat$ by its rules1 practices1 & ! 
op]ation ( cloture2 ,:]eas ne>ly all    
legislation today t _c obta9 unanim\s   
cons5t faces a multi/ep proc$ural       
process gauntlet1 be=e ev] hav+ a *ance 
= a real up or d[n vote2 ,:]eas mo/     
significant legislation 9 ! ,s5ate is   
call$ up & made p5d+ be=e ! ,s5ate only 
aft] cloture is invok$ on a motion to   
proce$ to consid] x1 & subsequ5tly1     
ano!r cloture motion mu/ be fil$ to end 
debate on ! legislation itself1 :i*     
means mo/ legislation 9 ! ,s5ate is     
subject to n "o1 b at lea/ two1         
filibu/]s2 ,:]eas ! ,s5ate no long] only
 filibu/]s publicly 7by hold+ ! floor 9 
a traditional filibu/]71 b x also does  
s1 privately1 by ,s5ators notic+ ) _!   

lead]%ip ?reats to filibu/]1 :i* 9      
effect invokes a secret or anonym\s hold
 out ( sight ( ! ,am]ican p2 ,:]eas x   
has become an increas+ly common practice
 = ,s5ators to place anonym\s holds on  
important bus9ess & ?reat5 to filibu/]  
)\t be+ requir$ to physically & op5ly d 
s on ! ,s5ate floor2 ,:]eas ev5 if a    
secret hold is resolv$1 ,s5ate bus9ess c
 /ill be fur!r delay$ by a s+le ,s5ator 
op5ly object+ to a reque/ to consid]    
bus9ess on ! ,s5ate floor 9 addition to 
o!r dilatory tactics or subsequ5t       
filibu/]2 ,:]eas 9 ! e>ly ye>s ( !      
,s5ate !re 0 no cloture rule or !       
concept ( an anonym\s hold1 z x conduct$
 legislative bus9ess ?r\gh s]i\s        
consid]ation & accommodation = all      
,s5ators1 be=e putt+ any matt] to a     
vote2 ,:]eas delay+ legislative matt]s  
by use ( ! traditional hold ! floor--/&+
 ,s5ate filibu/]--& o!r dilatory        
tactics--7 n r\t9ely us$ dur+ ! e>ly    
ye>s1 b ev5tually became common features
 us$ by ,s5ators to delay or prev5t a   

vote on consequ5tial legislation2 ,:]eas
 9 #aiag1 aft] a long s]ies (           
delib]ations 9 ! ,s5ate by a gr\p (     
,s5ators t kill$ a bill t w\ld h all[$  
,presid5t ,woodr[ ,wilson to def5d aga9/
 ,g]man subm>9e w>f>e1 9 ! p]iod lead+  
up to ,unit$ ,/ates involvem5t 9 ,_w ,w>
 ,i1 ! ,democrat-controll$ ,s5ate adopt$
 ! ,m>t9 ,resolution1 ! orig9al cloture 
rule 7p>agraph #b ( rule ,,xxii71       
p]mitt+ two-?irds ( ,s5ators vot+ 7) a  
quorum pres5t7 to br+ debate to a close 
& proce$ to a vote2 ,:]eas 9 ! lead-up  
to ! e/abli%m5t ( ! rule 9 #aiag1       
,presid5t ,woodr[ ,wilson respond$ & 9 8
 /atem5t said1 ''' ,! ,s5ate ( ! ,unit$ 
,/ates is ! only legislative body 9 ! _w
 :i* _c act :5 its majority is ready =  
action4 ,a little gr\p ( willful m51    
repres5t+ no op9ion b _! own1 h r5d]$ ! 
great ,gov]nm5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates       
helpless & contemptible4 ,! rem$y8 ,!re 
is b "o rem$y4 ,! only rem$y is t !     
rules ( ! ,s5ate %all be s alt]$ t x c  
act4 ,! c\ntry c be reli$ ^u to draw !  

moral4 ,i believe t ! ,s5ate c be reli$ 
on to supply ! means ( action & save !  
c\ntry f disa/]4 7#ee ,congressional    
,record #bj72 ,:]eas f #aiag-aifc1      
total+ a span ( #df ye>s1 ! ,s5ate      
manag$ to invoke cloture on only five   
occasions1 consequ5tly dur+ su* "t !    
,s5ate filibu/] & cloture rules 7 us$ to
 prev5t ! ,s5ate f pass+ critical bills 
t p]ta9$ to civil rights1 su* z         
prohibit+ lyn*+ & poll taxes2 ,:]eas 9  
#aidf1 ! ,s5ate fail$ to invoke cloture 
to aboli% ! poll tax--:i* malici\sly    
requir$ a tax to be paid 9 ord] to      
vote--:5 a l>ge gr\p ( ,s5ate ,democrats
 7#bf71 jo9$ by #g ,s5ate ,republicans1 
oppos$ end+ debate2 ,:]eas if ! cloture 
rule _h a ?re%old ( simple majority = ^?
 ,s5ators vot+ & pres5t1 ! #aidf bill to
 end ! poll tax w\ld h be5 consid]$ = a 
vote2 ,:]eas 9 #aibb1 #aice1 & #aich1 ! 
,s5ate filibu/] 0 us$ by a gr\p ( ,s\!rn
 ,s5ators to defeat anti-lyn*+ bills t  
c5t]$ on /opp+ horrific extrajudicial   
executions2 ,:]eas 9 #aidi1 !           

,democrat-controll$ ,s5ate revis$ !     
cloture rule1 all[+ ! ,s5ate to invoke  
cloture on any measure or motion only if
 two-?irds ( ,s5ators *os5 & sworn vot$ 
9 favor2 ,:]eas ! #aidi am5dm5t meant t 
#b_/c or #fd ,s5ators affirm+ w\ld be   
requir$ to invoke cloture1 s9ce !re 7 a 
total ( #if ,s5ators2 ,:]eas :ile       
filibu/]+ to d5y rights to m9ority      
gr\ps1 ,s\!rn ,democrat ,s5ators us$ !  
,s5ate filibu/]1 argu+ t x 0 a tool to  
protect m9ority rights2 ,:]eas 9 #aiei1 
! ,democrat ,majority ,lead]1 ,s5ator   
,lyndon ,b4 ,johnson ( ,texas1 sponsor$ 
an am5dm5t to p>agraphs #b & #c ( rule  
,,xxii t reimplem5t$ ! requirem5t =     
two-?irds ( ,s5ators vot+ 7) a quorum   
pres5t7 to close debate2 ,:]eas 9 #aige1
 ! ,democrat-controll$ ,s5ate adopt$ !  
curr5t cloture ?re%old1 l[]+ ! #b_/c    
vote to a #c_/e vote ( ! full ,s5ate1   
normally #fj1 to end debate2 ,:]eas 9   
#aigf1 ! ,democrat-controll$ ,s5ate     
am5d$ ! second s5t5ce ( ! f9al p>agraph 
( section #b ( rule ,,xxii t regulat$   

po/-cloture consid]ation ( am5dm5ts2    
,:]eas 9 #aigi1 ! ,democrat ,majority   
,lead]1 ,rob]t ,c4 ,byrd1 secur$        
adoption ( an am5dm5t to p>agraph #b (  
,s5ate rule ,,xxii t fur!r regulat$     
po/-cloture consid]ation ( matt]s2      
,:]eas 9 #aihf1 = ! fir/ "t1 !          
,republican-controll$ ,s5ate adopt$ a   
resolution to gov]n ! public broadca/ ( 
! *amb] floor proce$+s t r$uc$ ! "t     
p]mitt$ = po/ cloture consid]ation ( a  
measure or matt] f #ajj h\rs to #cj     
h\rs2 ,:]eas 9 ! #aac? ,congress1 !     
,democratic-controll$ ,s5ate us$ !      
s-call$ nucle> option1 vot+ #eb-dh1 )   
all ,republicans & #c ,democrats vot+   
aga9/1 to re9t]pret ,s5ate rule ,,xxii  
to provide = majority cloture on        
executive bran* & judicial nom9ees o!r  
?an to ! ,supreme ,c\rt2 ,:]eas ! #aiag 
cloture rule adoption1 its am5dm5ts 9   
#aidi1 #aiei1 #aige1 & ! new prec$5t1 ! 
nucle> option 9 #bjac1 7 eng9e]$ by     
,s5ate ,democrats :5 !y held ! ,s5ate   
majority2 ,:]eas 9 ! #aad? ,congress1 ! 

failure to invoke cloture & ! ,s5ate's  
in=mal practice relat$ to debate h      
/alemat$ ! legislative process1 tabl+ ! 
consid]ation ( critical issues affect+ !
 con/itutional & national security ( !  
,nation2 ,:]eas ?is ye> ! failure to    
invoke cloture has delay$ measures 9 !  
,s5ate f rea*+ a fair1 up or d[n vote on
 matt]s ( economic developm5t & job     
gr[?1 secur+ ! ,unit$ ,/ates bord]1     
protect+ innoc5t life1 national security
 bills1 & ! mo/ important national      
security issue ( our "t1 ! ,iranian     
,nucle> ,deal2 ,:]eas if ! cloture rule 
_h a ?re%old ( a simple majority to />t 
or end debate--#ea votes ( ! total      
,s5ate--= ^? ,s5ators duly sworn & *os51
 legislation ( ! #aad? ,congress t pass$
 ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives1 :i* is      
support$ by a majority ( ,congress & an 
ov]:elm+ majority ( ! ,am]ican p1 w\ld h
 rea*$ a f9al vote 9 ! ,s5ate2 ,:]eas ! 
,am]ican p are l>gely unaw>e ( ! esot]ic
 practice ( requir+ ! sup]majority to   
all[ a vote & !re=e are unable to       

asc]ta9 :i* p>ties or individuals are   
responsible = ! actions or inactions ( !
 ,s5ate & consequ5tly acc\ntability     
becomes dramatically r$uc$2 ,:]eas !    
,s5ate's cloture rule & practices relat$
 to debate h be5 ! culpable re/ra9ts on 
any significant actions by ?is ,congress
 ev5 :5 ! majority wi%es to act2 ,:]eas 
! ov]all effect ( ! requir$ sup]majority
 = cloture is to %ield f vot]           
acc\ntability actions or inactions 9 bo?
 ! legislative & executive bran*es (    
,gov]nm5t2 ,:]eas ! orig9al int5t ( !   
adoption ( ! cloture rule 9 #aiag 0 to  
prev5t unreasonable delay1 today x is   
us$ to actually create ext5d$ or p]man5t
 delay2 ?is violates ! hi/orical &      
orig9al int5t = ! rule & 9 fact         
exac]bates ! v problem x 0 orig9ally    
int5d$ to address2 & ,:]eas ! curr5t    
cloture rule & ! ,s5ate's in=mal & =mal 
practices relat$ to debate h ultimately 
subord9at$ ! ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$    
,/ates itself3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x  ,t--   
7#a7 x is ! s5se ( ! ,h\se (            

,repres5tatives t ! ,/&+ ,rules ( !     
,s5ate & debate practices %\ld n be     
abus$ = ! purpose ( debilitat+ ! ,s5ate 
& indef9itely block+ debate or a fair1  
up or d[n vote on legislative matt]s2   
7#b7 ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives urges !  
,s5ate to adopt a new prec$5t t w\ld end
 ! abuse ( ! ,/&+ ,rules ( ! ,s5ate &   
ardu\s practices relat$ to debate 9 ord]
 to re/ore ! daily work+s ( ! ,s5ate1 9 
keep+ ) acc\ntable debate su* z !       
classic /&+ & talk+ filibu/]2  7#c7 x is
 ! s5se ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives t   
aft] ! ,s5ate sets a new prec$5t to     
re/ore its work+s1 ! ,s5ate %\ld        
negotiate & adopt1 "u its exi/+ rules ( 
a sup]majority vote to invoke cloture1 a
 p>liam5t>ian proc$ure to replace !     
cloture motion to call up legislation & 
make x p5d+ be=e ! ,s5ate1 ) a non      
debatable motion to proce$ to consid] t 
all[s = ! m9ority to (f] a reasonable   
numb] ( g]mane am5dm5ts1 subject to     
debate1 once ! measure is p5d+ =        
consid]ation2  7#d7 ! ,h\se (           

,repres5tatives fur!r enc\rages ! ,s5ate
 to =bid ?reats ( a filibu/] d]iv$ f an 
anonym\s hold1 & 9 its place re9vigorate
 ! traditional /&+ filibu/] or hold !   
floor me*anism ( diss5t1 ) a "t         
allocation ( up to #ajj h\rs & ! ability
 to truncate debate only by a petition (
 #fj ,s5ators2  7#e7 x is ! s5se ( !    
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives t ! propos$     
numb] ( g]mane am5dm5ts & debate h\rs & 
me*anism to truncate debate describ$ 9  
p>agraphs 7#c7 & 7#d71 respectively1    
c\ld be decreas$ or increas$ at ! "t t !
 rule *ange is negotiat$ & adopt$1      
ensur+ ! appropriate c5t] betwe5        
suffici5t adv]s>ial debate & ! prev5tion
 ( *ronic /alemate is bo? a ,s5ate      
majority & m9ority det]m9ation2  7#f7 ! 
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives believes t ^!   
propos$ *anges to ! ,/&+ ,rules ( !     
,s5ate & debate practices %all--  7,a7  
ree/abli% delib]ation 9 ! _w's mo/      
delib]ative body1 z int5d$ by ! ,unit$  
,/ates ( ,am]ica's f\nd+ fa!rs2  7,b7   
all[ ! ,s5ate to meet its con/itutional 

responsibilities 9 a timely fa%ion &    
effectively respond to national ne$s2   
7,c7 enhance our democratic sy/em & !   
att5d+ processes t cle>ly1 specifically 
& accurately assign (ficial actions (   
repres5tatives & p>ties accord+ly s t   
acc\ntability is cle>ly del9eat$2 &     
7,d7 encompasses a /rong inc5tive to    
rea* cons5sus 9 ! ,s5ate & /ill pres]ve 
! m9ority's opportunity to h enhanc$    
objection & reasonable lev]age aga9/ any
 ov]rea* on ! "p ( ! majority or if !   
m9ority feels fur!r debate & cl>ity on a
 giv5 ag5da item is p>ticul>ly important
 to ! c\ntry2 &  7#g7 x is ! s5se ( !   
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives t no?+ 9 ?is    
resolution-- 7,a7 %all be con/ru$ z !   
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives advocat+ a      
:olesale aboli%m5t ( a ,s5ate filibu/]  
me*anism or sup]majority cloture        
requirem5t2 or  7,b7 %all be con/ru$ z !
 ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives call+ = !      
classic /&+ & talk+ ,s5ate filibu/] to  
be aboli%$2 on ! contr>y1 ! ,h\se       
believes x %\ld be re9vigorat$4