And the extended debate, the filibuster, that's part of that system of checks and balances. So it's a very important part of limiting government at least in the Senate, for example. I mean ...

Every time the Senate has changed hands in recent history, nine times starting with the 1980 elections, the party in power has threatened to scrap or at least limit the filibuster. This procedural ...

A version of this story appeared in CNN’s What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. When things actually happen on Capitol Hill, it’s frequently because senators ...

That bar was lowered in 1975 to a three-fifths supermajority, meaning it takes 60 votes in the Senate to end debate. But filibusters, once rare and grand affairs, have become commonplace ...

The Laken Riley Act defeated the legislative filibuster again during a second procedural vote on Friday, amassing more than 60 votes to advance it to a final vote. By a margin of 61-35 ...

But a talking filibuster would mean opponents would have to continuously hold the floor and thus halt all other chamber business — a strategy that proponents say would force compromise.

The Senate voted 61-35 to advance the bill, clearing the 60-vote threshold necessary to overcome the filibuster. The chamber plans to pass the bill on Monday, and will only need a majority vote at ...

A bipartisan bill to crack down on illegal immigration narrowly overcame its second and final 60-vote filibuster in the Senate on Friday, all but ensuring its eventual passage in Congress.