Filibuster

Explanation

The filibuster is a procedural tactic in the United States Senate that allows any senator to extend debate on a bill indefinitely, effectively blocking a vote. To end a filibuster (through a process called "cloture"), 60 of 100 senators must vote to proceed. This means that in practice, most significant legislation in the US Senate needs 60 votes, not a simple majority. The filibuster is not in the Constitution — it emerged from Senate rules allowing unlimited debate. It has been used to block civil rights legislation, judicial nominations, and countless policy bills. Recent reforms have eliminated the filibuster for most judicial and executive nominations but preserved it for legislation.